Clay plant pots friendly
as neighbours: I tickle
the mud pie eating, dirt
bathing memory
of my childhood awake
and dig my gloveless
fingers into the soil.
I seed marigolds, dahlias,
button mums, and tiger
lilies, then sit on the porch
steps and wait for the sun
and its barely there 12
o’clock shadows.

Weeks of afternoon
naps and the chickadees
have sung the birdfeeder
empty as a speechless
mouth. Have painted
the birdhouse chirpy and
chipper with feathers
as the seedlings peek
towards the watering can
and chirruping sky.
So that I may nurture
an occasional loneliness,
but never when I’m alone
with (mother) nature.

Cover image by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash