Peace in the Community Garden

The garden is my sanctuary;

Delicate interplay of plants, both colorful and lovely;

Summer heat brings succulent squash,

My strength is restored to face a world of uncertainty.

As water bearer I feel nurtured with kindness,

Lavished with beauty, I see-

Evolving forms of form, color, texture, and taste-

Vegetables of various genus, offering food and seed.

The green unfurling leaves of tomato plants,

Hanging red pendants, ripe and overflowing;

Sentinel yellow Sunflowers watching over-

Tender purple kale, rainbow chard ever-growing.

Companion plants of basil and cucumbers,

Deep red beets harmonizing w/kale ;

Aroma of savory sage fills my breath,

Harlequin beetles dance, calendula regails.

Totem hollyhock flowering deep red and pink

Death in life reveals itself- reseeding;

Gentle breeze as a pair of golden finches visit,

Begs for a radish sprout, just greening.

Okra pops its head up as if to say, ‘all is well.'

Interdependent community laughs and grows,

Holy basil spreads wisdom over the garden,

Gentle peace pervades as creeping thyme knows.


Middletown Community garden, 2018

                                                           Ode to a Lettuce Deva
                                                               (written for Harbin newsletter, 2002)


                                   Rays of sunlight glimmer,
                                   Yellow, the corn leaves shimmer;
                                   I quiver in delight,
                                   A faery is calling my sight!
                                   Reaping the fruits of devic toil,
                                   Spilling calendula oil,
                                   You grasp the tomato ripeness,
                                    Its' skin bursting ruby kindness.

                                    I spy her secret regis-
                                    A devic spirit disguised as lettuce,
                                    Reaching for for its last brood,
                                    Begging to be loved and understood;
                                    Head crowned in purple bells,
                                    Impish energy deep in dells,
                                    Spindly arms seven spiraling.
                                    I sighed, "I am" she cried!