Our Garden
In my mind’s eye,
I see you still,
Standing still in our garden,
Motionless,
Deep in thought.
So what were you thinking?
The seeds we planted together,
Grew strong,
We tended them,
Fed and watered them,
Gave them shelter and support.
We watched anxiously.
Now they are strong, gloriously confident,
They no longer need our tender loving care.
The scarlet poppies, petals as fragile as crepe paper,
Grow miraculously strong on delicate stems.
The marigolds, like a cluster of brilliant suns,
Know their power.
The trailing lobelias explore exuberantly
And will not be contained.
The seed of our love we also planted together,
Tended with the same loving care and understanding,
And at first a willingness to forgive.
But in time, as it grew, it too needed protection,
From sudden tempests, sudden frosts,
And tears that felt like rain.
Desperately we provided support and protection,
But it was never enough.
The seed which at first had grown so joyfully,
Now withered
And died.
cat's tail question mark
is swishing behind the hedge
trailing lobelias
Copyright: Julian Lawson June 2017
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