Three gardens

I.

This garden is bowl of seeds
for birds, snails and worms
Under the orange umbrella,
I watch the creatures
whirling, chomping, chirping-
content with gifts from the earth


II.

This garden is scratch of hope
a glint of tranquility in the city's grey
minted with medicine, not only
for tired bones
for damaged liver
for scarred heart
for torn ligaments 
but also for
spirit seeking solace
amidst the perfume of blooms, 
vines and buds-
pinking the hours full, sated
by good company 


III.

In the basket-
okra, eggplants, lemon grass,
squash, radish, peppers, pigeon peas-
await my grateful hands
to slice their roots
to boil their leaves 
to brew their stems
to bottle skin and sap
and finally
to fold seeds to sleep
in my garden, silted with rain 
& green peelings of hope  



Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - Poetics - Johnny's Garden Hosted by Kim Russell -  Pub opens at 3pm EST.