Intermittent Rain

INTERMITTENT RAIN Intermittent rain, has put my garden out of play To jumping fleas and bugs I keep out of the fray The rain softens the soil, making lifting roots OK Watching at the window, ready to make my play Timing is everything, before the earth dries hard Out with the gardening tools, I play my ace card Soil just crumbles away, from those strong roots Where in dry soil weeds clasp on like little brutes Fingers dallying away at the tender gentle shoots The weeding ensured where the soil is very loose Nothing better than a clear dampen flower border Where if only for a day it's nice to see some order Indiana Shaw . . .