Flowerbed

Flowerbed

It was not a mountain,

only a small mound of earth

I found in the woods.

This would make good soil

for a flowerbed out back

at the edge of the lawn.

I didn’t move it by faith,

but with shovel and cart

hauled and spread it out

among four cottonwoods

that need to die some day soon.

The faith part comes next

with seeds:  hollyhock,

poppy, flax plus other

perennials I can’t name

that need transplanting

before they crowd everything

else around them out.  

Maybe some bulbs next fall—

daffodils for a flash of yellow

and crocus to first greet spring. 

I’ll omit the tulips this time.  

Let the doe go elsewhere to chomp

buds about to burst and spoil

someone else’s dreams.

                              —Donnell Hunter

                                          10 April 2011