The veronica is so happy
to see–me–
I am their hero, their warrior
brandishing the sharp
green-handled clippers,
suited up in khaki and white,
protected by rubbery blue nitrile gloves,
thrashing about, wading–wading
into mounds, great mounds
of faded purplepinkwhite
spikey spikes:
Take that*Clip that*
Get back humidity, mosquitoes and those damn chiggers–
not even my tall shit-kicker boots
can keep those damn things at bay.
I stop to mop my sweaty brow
with my crumpled up lucky green bandana–
hidden in my back pocket
for times like this–
I tip the wide brim of my hat: 
Carry on, veronica
Godspeed, speedwell 

I”ll be back–