POETRY

GARDENING  POWER

By

Shelby Stephenson

You bring the Earth –

Dipping God’s Shining Brow –

Your presence

Seasons skin to skin.

Daylight reports where the frog embedded

Under a faucet might go when cold weather

Shakes its bottom –

Whether a tether might keep the toad’s house

The way water and gorge hold

Hues unassailable.

May your love of the Earth as Universe

Rain as much invitation as sun – rosy

Wind on your creek – your life and work

One – inclusive –

You are Root and Land, the Beds of Vegetables

And Winter’s Song.  Spring cheers you on,

The bluebird’s bloom-sing and

The thrasher’s touching bibliography –

With Woods, Worms –

Summer and Fall, too, riding together –

Truth’s Beauty among weeds and wildflowers,

In and out of Heart.

For you the Gods and Goddesses of Earth,

River, Sun, and Wind – Enormous – Rave.