we start our lives in a tomato patch
as gangling sprouts bursting out
breaking the brown ground
bounding without sight
toward a sun bright
shining through
sky blue

we plant ourselves as bred to bear
ruby ripe fruit red round from
farm to table no care taken
to prune stems growing
skinny and spindly
spry tight lime
green leaves

we grow wild branches shooting out
never so cynical to doubt the
sheltering sun warming
dark soil so loyal so
tender and joyful
to cradle pale
frail roots

we all think we will live well forever
each of us under summer sun
milling the light into living
raising rain from clay
flowering by day
fruit spright
by night

we learn with time time will fell us all
creatures reaching in our season
for a next life not like hosta
or iris rising from root
but from seed cast
against the wind
to ground