a garden's secret

THE

OLD

GARDEN

With my children,
Planted seeds,
To grow a garden
For our needs.

Dropped the kernels
In a row.
Each took turns
To dig and hoe.

Then we watched
And checked each day,
Rotting moss
Helped soften clay.

Dewy, sprouts
With mist drop,
Warmed in beams
To make a crop.

Truth? In time,
Is old grows new.
Ancient, earth
Brings that in view.

Unkempt gardens,
Browned, untame,
Green still bursts
From what looks lame.

Relic, rain,
Senile, sun,
Cultivate
'Till growing's done.

Crumbling, dirt,
What's it's worth?
Forests, flowers,
Fare of earth!

Children laughing,
Garden grown,
Cabbage-greens,
Yellows, roan.

I speak, "Hush,
Say a prayer.
Learn the secrets
Gardens bear.

Ancient, crumbling,
Is short strife,
In old, old, gardens
Grows gold, gold, life!"