Too Soon
The dogs won’t leave the garden beds alone,
my fault for using organic compost, ripe
smell intoxicates them, more so than bone,
they paw and dig, crush the rising new life.
I could fence every thing off, but it would feel
too much a prison in that part of the plot.
What of the squirrels, tomatoes appeal,
they take small bites, leave the rest to rot?
It’s hard to let go, allow nature its course
when you’ve put time and hope into a thing,
watered and fed it, picked aphids and worse
from its leaves, to just relax while birds sing.
My daughter out to sun in her two-piece suit,
now boys, thick as weeds, after forbidden fruit.
14 thoughts on "Too Soon"
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This poem holds many truths, and you present them with such a welcoming and gentle tone.
“It’s hard to let go, allow nature its course
when you’ve put time and hope into a thing,
watered and fed it, picked aphids and worse
from its leaves, to just relax while birds sing.”
Wow! I just love that, Bill.
The turn at the end is amazing. Great write!
Yesterday a squirrel gnawed through our screened porch to get at birdseed, so I was sympathizing with you. The surprise ending, though, put things in perspective.
Love the sonnet form!
Yeah , what mike said. A masterclass in deft storytelling within form. I’ve said this elsewhere today but again here, the subtle foreshadow is brilliant.
Title to trepidation, craft.
What approachable everyday sonnet. I love a poem that can make aphids poetic. Love the turn at the end!
this is so good
illustrating nature’s law
of unintended consequence
The turn is so unexpected – but it works!
Great sonnet! The closing couplet floored me.
yes great sonnet and loved the ending!
same as Kevin and Linda – flawless victory!
I laughed out loud at the end! Sorry–because it is your new truth. But don’t be afraid to use bug spray.
“now boys, thick as weeds….” Perfect.
We seem, somewhat, to be on the same page with our daughters again (re: 2023 LexPoMo).
Additionally, the parallel you portrayed is quite interesting!
Hard to cease the attempts to control when you’ve poured your heart into it, knowing that nature and the actions of animals, or boys, are out of our control.
Lovely poem as always.
Beautiful.
Love:
My daughter out to sun in her two-piece suit,
now boys, thick as weeds, after forbidden fruit.
Shew! I love the turn of “It’s hard to let go, allow nature its course/when you’ve put time and hope into a thing,/
watered and fed it, picked aphids and worse/from its leaves, to just relax while birds sing.”
Wonderful. It scans so well that I noticed the rhyme later!