The Still Garden

At dawn I go to the garden
To find sleeping flowers,
The cool water of the fountain,
A soft tinkling music
Reaches my ears,
And I rejoice

The sun awakens the flowers
And the first beam falls on the fountain
As I listen to its music
Birdsong touches my ears
And my spirit rejoices
As I walk through the garden

I sit by the fountain
And the silence is music
To my ears
The world awakens and rejoices
As I sit in the garden
Amidst the bright flowers

Be still and listen for the music
It will reach your ears
Let your mind rejoice
In the garden
With the bright flowers
And the cool fountain

The words come to my ears
And my being rejoices
For the peaceful garden
Filled with sweet-scented flowers
And a soft murmuring fountain
Soothing my heart with music

The garden rejoices
For it is a garden
Where truth is bright flowers
And a soft flowing fountain
Filling the world with music
For all who have ears

As I leave the garden the music
Mingles with the flowers and my ears
Hear the fountain’s song of rejoicing.

A sestina, written for a challenge, April 10th, 2005