Off the Highway
by Julia Weld Huntington
Lilacs lift leaves of cool satin
And blossoms of mother-of-pearl
Against the tarnished silver of the deserted house.
Tall, exquisite grasses fill the dooryard with spray.
Through the sun-drenched fragrance drifts the hazy monotone of bees
Tints of opal and jade; the hush of emerald shadows,
And a sense of the past as a living presence
Distill a haunting wistful peace.
PHOTO: Lilacs blooming by the Norwegian House at Old World Wisconsin — a living history museum. Photo by Hannah Babiak, used by permission.
POETRY and PLACES 