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Nine Ways to Look at a Garden
by
Erle Kelly


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Man, Woman, First Garden,
First Seeds create
pleasure, children, conflict.


A demanding child,
the garden pulls strength
from sun, water, soil.

Tomatoes, zucchini, peppers,
yellow squash, fight for space
with spurge, parasites, weeds.

Summer light reflects hues
of reds, greens, yellows,
stores energy for growth.

Hands in soil, patience,
toil, touch garden
and gardener's soul.

The garden's bounty shares
with keeper, family, friends
insects, squirrels and sparrows.

Garden plot measured out,
a structure for growth
as chaos awaits.

Weather makes a pact: Garden,  
root early, survive my rage
and you will thrive.

A garden is born
death awaits,
create ashes for re-birth.

 

© by Erle Kelly.
Used with the author's permission.

 


Erle Kelly lives in Long Beach, California. A graduate of the state university there, he entered the Navy Air Force after college and became a navigator. After his years in naval service, Erle enjoyed a career in sales and marketing management. After retiring, he tutored at a local elementary school for many years. Today, Erle is active in a poetry writing class and his work has appeared in various online publications. He greatly enjoys his community vegetable garden and cycling, but his greatest joy is when he and his wife spend time with their friends, their four grandchildren, and their three great-grandchildren.  

 

 


Post New Comment:
peninsulapoet:
Love it.
Posted 05/15/2016 08:53 AM
Lori Levy:
Especially like the first stanza.
Posted 05/14/2016 04:16 PM
ElizabethP:
Very nice indeed. Thanks for sharing!
Posted 05/14/2016 09:37 AM
Jancan:
I'm impressed by the attention to detail and colorful use of personification in this fine poem. Janice
Posted 05/14/2016 08:18 AM


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