These Are My JOTtings, Part #2

Dianthus

Dianthus lives a solid life
of vict'ry, cold or hot.
The sun may cause it face great strife,
but still, its way is sought.

Dianthus shares the pansy stage
through Winter's strongest cold.
Its greatest strength is there to gauge
the staying days so bold.

But kept from summer's harshest day
in shades of house and tree,
dianthus color shines display
in hues of hopes, that free.

Dianthus can endure the cold,
more readily than heat,
but when its human help is bold
its days of life repeat.

by Jay O’Toole
on September 9th, 2020