Fairyland

Row after row in or shine, She grew them where the scattered lay; Mayflowers, roses, columbine, A fairyland among decay. I ran to where her wielded wand Cast beauty down between dead bark. Damp earth we combed with clawing hand, Light fingerplay among the dark; Then danced upon her magic lawn. "Choose one, the fairest to your eye. It's grown for you and you alone; Then tend till old enough to die." Till old enough? For it or me? My longer and my shorter years, A garden kept on bended knee From vine and weed, with sweat and tears, And blooded briar, choking turf; Till bye and bye, a withered rose; And this: her hushing voice - "enough! That was the fairyland you chose." David Colquhoun.