sara Etgen-Baker Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

image from wwlp.com

“May baskets are small gifts, often filled with flowers or treats, that are anonymously given to friends, neighbors, or loved ones on May 1st, known as May Day. The tradition involves leaving these baskets on doorsteps, ringing the doorbell, and running away before the recipient can see who delivered them.” (info from blog.papermart.com)

MAY BASKETS

Dawn arrives wet with dew~  
our fingers weave dandelion chains  
around the handles of baskets,  
strawberry jam jars, old tin pails~  
anything that will hold the weight  
of violets crushed against mint.  

We tiptoe past sleeping porches,  
leave them on doorknobs,  
on steps where the wood still remembers  
last night’s rain.  

No one sees us~  
that’s the rule.  
But the baskets hum  
with secrets May Day
can’t keep. 

you may read the companion memoir vignette at poetrysoup.com/short_stories/may_baskets_13608

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Yann Rolland May 2, 2026 at 4:54 PM so touching, enjoyed , delicate inspiration wishes

Paula Goldsmith May 2, 2026 at 9:34 AM I enjoyed reading your wonderful "MAY BASKETS" write. Great/pretty picture.... Have a great weekend writing away............

Line Gauthier May 2, 2026 at 8:30 AM Lovely poem ~ What a lovely tradition ~ never heard of it ~ so glad you shared, Sara