gardener

gardener by ed hart

the expectant earth

surrendered

another row today

my back girdle-cinched

against a concert of injury

my shovel

puts strength in my arms

as the black soil peels back

worms and tiny roots

me and the yellow sun

are glad to be

ahead of the game

sitting in the swing

i hold hands with her

                               she thinks

the garden is country casual

with its chicken-wire fence

but i picture

that salvaged patio lumber

forming next year's border

and a new fence

to keep the rabbits out

the squirrels go where they go

Dear Learner,

This poem is the heart-song of the quintessential 'gardener' -- not just one who loves gardening but one who loves to see life as his garden and teaches us all how to be worthy gardeners. He begins by speaking of the effort it takes to sort out one 'row' of a garden. It reminds me of life and how many 'injuries' it takes to sort out one dimension of one's life. He then speaks of how the process of sorting out empowers him when he says "my shovel puts strength in my arms". Then he describes the sense of triumph one feels when one accomplishes something. He speaks of how enlightening the experience is when he says "me and the yellow sun are glad to be ahead of the game". Following that, he describes how he is sitting on a swing with his love by his side and how he can see beyond the apparent. The image, her thoughts and his thoughts are (for me) a reference to how we can break up a complex task into simple tasks and how the visionary can see beyond the obvious -- into the future. The final line is particularly compelling. It resounds in my heart as it's a metaphor for all those who we have no control over -- the "squirrels" in our lives.

This poem illustrates a fine balance between a sense of 'doing' and 'letting go', and, in that sense, is very much the essence of the core message of the Bhagvad Gita. 

If, like me, you're an Indian and English is your second or third language, read the poem and listen to the poet's voice several times. If we don't forget a poem, learning has happened.

Warm wishes from a fellow learner,

. serah .