the gardener

 

 

2014-04-25 18.02.30-4

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