Afternoon with the Secretary
The first shelf above the desk of the secretary
Barely droops under the weight of my Berry
& Manning & Walker & Worley
My Finney & Lyon & Wilkinson
You occupy the second and third ledges
with Waters & Steiner & Schumacher
& Greene on Greens & Root Cellaring
& Secrets of Mustard & Art of Vinegar
& The Scythe Book & actual stones & mosses
& lichens & jars of mystical rain. Your shelves
Break the law of gravity with GRAVE MATTERS
(A Treatise on Natural Burial)…What have I
Accomplished today sitting here at my writing
Desk while you tend your extended garden
Placed right outside this sliding glass door?
Your efforts will grow while mine may collapse
And cover me with a spade of empty page
3 thoughts on "Afternoon with the Secretary"
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
The title intrigued and the ending “a spade of empty page” satisfied.
A parade of books, ideas, projects on a sagging shelf–what a delicious turn of verse.
Food for the soul, sag the shelves, and food for the body grow in the garden outside–both of equal worth to the two people highlighted here. Great job…