Garden Mystery

Written
1993

 How gardened was the plot where I grew?

I know the source of the germinated seed.

What beyond that?

The sunny, rich soil

        is my heritage.

There seemed no busy gardeners.

How then did I grow?

Who told me when to branch?

And is blossoming

       merely of a season?

How helped the gardeners

        in the growing?

I remember a gentle

        and consistent presence.

I saw a knowing

       nod from time to time.

And I thought I saw pride

        in shy glances.

I basked in loving warmth.

But each day I remember

        I did it all on my own.

Why then the gardeners?

If I was their first crop,

       why were so gardeners

       so confident

       as to benefit me

       from tender, loving neglect?

      And who tends the garden

      in my Fall?

Now I garden.

I knew my seeds.

I planted them

       in sunny, fertile ground.

I gave unconditional love.

I talked to the plants

       in gentle tones.

And I admired the fruits.

Where did I learn to garden?

Is this what we took from Eden?

What makes the flower bloom?

And what of those that wither?

How is their plot gardened?

Where is it written,

       this growing the human crop?

Am I what the seed knew?

Am I what the gardeners knew?

And do I stop my gardening

     in my Fall?

Who will then garden my plot?

 

 

 

 

 

Notes
A poem to the family in the weekly family letter. The idea of "tender Loving neglect" comes from a delightful story a School Psychologist in Yuba county told with her wonderful Irish Brogue. Seems her house plants would not grow in her Boston honeymoon apartment . Her mother came to see her and said: "Now Ellie you have watered and potted and repotted these plants. Now all they need is some tender loving neglect. " That is how I was raised. Lots of freedom, but carefully watched