Vertical Gardening

Verical Gardening

I wanted the rows to spread out...
symmetrically

A horizontal patchwork of tender growth
protected under the night sky

Neat rows of fennel blossoms
and Chinese broccoli

But the planting went off course the
rototiller zigged and then zagged
the helmsman beat down by the bad weather of mistakes

Look up!
I swear It’s Jack and the Beanstalk
the runner beans a kaleidoscope of unfortune.
I’ll need a ladder to harvest!

Soon the spring rains will arrive
But in the late winter sky
I can’t tell rain from the fog of my tears

Today I can sense a swelling in the ground
There was a glimpse of the sun

and though it has been a while.. I can imagine
sprawling fields of mustard flowers
in neat rows.