rebirth

i planted a flower garden today
thought it might take half an hour
but the grasses had taken over
long stringy tubers crisscrossing everywhere
dandelions with roots so deep
and also an old black mesh
once upon a time installed to block the weeds
but now hijacked — it had to go
and it took hours and hours to prepare the ground
for a scattering of wildflower seeds
daisies and poppies and sweet peas and forget-me-nots
lovingly watered into place
and i fretted
wondered if the birds would come and dine
on this irresistible buffet
and a big pile of autumn’s leaves beckoned me
squished flat by melted snow
thick with decomposition
so i raked some up
saw a big fat worm
wriggling back into the earth
and i smiled
spread those leaves on top of the little seeds
and even though it took all day
my heart was filled with gladness
at creating something beautiful
and i supposed this might be the best garden ever