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<center>Planting</center>
Much of my youth was spent turning earth;
Extracting voracious weeds and watching nature take a guided course.
Chunks of potato turning to curled leaves
Then dinner with sprinkled chives from the same garden.
It was never easy work, causing calluses,
Sweat and sometimes the bloodied hand.
Yanking glacial rock from nestled beds.
Pitching fork loads of manure
While breathing through your mouth to avoid choking.
Chasing away pecking birds, hungry horses
And crying over rotted cabbage that could have won a prize.
As an adult I planted birth trees for my daughters
From moose chewed clumps to platform forts
That overlooked the court.
Then came flames of pain and rage
Destroying all that had ever been grown.
The land was scorched black in my soul.
No expectations of growth ever again.
Then a tempest swirled from far away
Sending life giving rain, glittering down over burnt landscape
Earth slowly turned, one heavy spade full at a time
Laughter, dancing, soft words, strong kindness, all possible again
Budding unexpected flowers, magic fruit with sweet rinds.
Rising towards glorious light
You are the wellspring of my soul
Making what was lost possible again
Our future grows wild and free
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