the gardener
The Gardener, Kevin McEvoy, oil on Belgian linen, 58" x 34"
Hoeing
I sometimes fear the younger generation will be deprived
of the pleasures of hoeing;
there is no knowing
how many souls have been formed by this simple exercise.
The dry earth like a great scab breaks, revealing
moist- dark loam-
the pea-root's home,
a fertile wound perpetually healing
How neatly the green weeds go under!
The blade chops the earth new.
Ignorant the wise boy who
has never rendered thus the world fecunder.
-poem by John Updike
