Alice: the Avocado tree shades the bungalow from intense LA sun
Bob: the Bungalow breaks strong Santa Ana winds that blow down
They’re an example of loving symbiosis
Like love birds preening
Or elderly couples feeding
Alice and Bob have been together for a long time
I separate them when they kiss at the front stoop
Alice sends topsy-turvy fruit wobbling down Bob’s roof
Her roots and his foundation: All the way back to ’27
Bob plays the old records on the Victrola in the parlor
Alice hosts breakfast for congregations of Pasadena parrots
There’s a timeless nature to this slice of Bungalow Heaven
In the Fall, I rake the twigs and leaves around Alice’s roots
Up the ladder, Bob’s trim needs painting, and I fix the roof
It’s been been a labor of love restoring the old place
Like flower garden penance
Or caring for elderly parents
I’m just the latest caregiver in their timeless embrace
Barry Rynk lived in Altadena near the top of Marengo in a classic 1920’s bungalow between 2012 – 2016. He is currently working and living full-time in the Dallas area in the defense sector as an engineer, and enjoys writing part-time both poetry and short stories. Barry’s poetry is largely inspired by nature and his personal outdoors’ experiences, especially hiking, camping, and sailing. His first published poem, Frederick’s Fire, was selected for the 2020 Waco WordFest anthology. His second poem, Grandmother Tree, was recently selected a winner in the 2021 50th Annual Collin County Poetry Contest and published in the anthology.
Photo: Pavani Smith