Show Me tha’ Key
“When a thing is wick…”
– Dickon, The Secret Garden
Once upon a time: There was
a time, there was
a place, a bit of earth and dreams
climbed trellis breath
with ivy fingers sent to sky—
I bury words and messages
(myself), like squirrels hide nuts in Fall,
forced-remission-missives—
malignant sparrows
til they’re fed.
For now,
I bury angry knuckles
in the soil, attempt to spread
these river-rocks
together, in a tryst,
a twist
of something beautiful,
but hidden, sleeping, dead and dying—
corners of my yard
I will (re)build. I will
shape this zen to garden— not retreat;
this is not
retreat.
A healer cannot heal
from an empty grave.
A lock cannot be
broken, without a key.