Many years ago...
With tomatoes, zucchini, and peppers
All planted in neat rows.
I would till and weed and water,
And chase the birds away,
And when the sun set on my plot,
I'd dream of harvest day.
Finally, that day arrived,
The fruit, it was so sweet,
And we'd can and freeze and pickle
All we could not eat.
My garden then lay dormant,
While my compost pile grew,
With leaves and grass and garden lime,
The soil to renew.
Then spring would come again,
And my garden...after the frost.
As if trying to show me -
Love's labor is never lost.
But then came the groundhogs,
The cutworms, and the slugs,
And my Eden was violated
By animals and bugs.
I fenced and sprayed and fought them
With all my strength and wit,
But no matter what I tried to do,
Did not hinder them one bit.
I finally quit the battle,
Threw my hands up in disgust,
And surrendered to them my garden,
Along with it - my trust.
My garden now lies arid,
A dim memory of the past,
With bittersweet thoughts of labor -
And loves that did not last.
And my compost pile has now become
My neighbor's garbage heap,
Strewn with pizza boxes and beer cans,
He throws there while I sleep.
So, I clenched my fists in anger,
Walked to my property line,
And cleaned and separated,
What was his - and mine.
But - now what shall I do
With this clean and empty space,
Which seems to beckon innocently,
Not knowing its disgrace?
Should I start all over...
Build a garden once again,
Or should I be much wiser...
Make a place to share with friends?
And together we can plant some seeds,
Of peace and love and - trust,
And watch a brand-new garden grow...
From the garbage and the dust.