We walked through a wondrous group of gardens

Near Victoria, British Columbia today

Acres of carefully landscaped grounds

Contained a variety of areas,

Each with its own theme and special treasure

Of flowers of all kinds and colors

Arrayed in dazzling profusion

With breathtaking beauty

As diverse and plentiful as the plantlife was,

The throng of visitors swarming the place

Supplied the perfect counterpoint,

People speaking differing dialects of English

Or foreign languages from around the world

As we walked we received a weaving,

Of brief snatches of speech

In exotic accents and tongues

Entering and leaving our hearing,

With the ever-varying beds of blossoms

Entering and leaving our vision