KEEPING THE WHOLE

There are some things that should be pressed in the ground, that should remain whole in the ground. There are resources that are not meant to be resources. They are not resources. Do not make them resources other than knowing they are there, lying deep underground, solid, whole, at peace.

We do not have to rush into the future at breakneck speed. Let fields lie fallow. Let herds loose over the plains. Manure nurtures futures well.

Wells. We can let the streams dream deep. Streams trickling invisibly underground. Just buckets pulled up to sip, dip in when we need to, maximum efficiency for an easy future.

Wind strings around sticks, screw lids on jars, watch steam rise from the burner in efficient batches.

In winter, we open a jar of summer on our plate when it’s pale outside. Cold out there, peachy in here.

Let most mostly at rest. That’s what I say. Cultivate bits of heaven here in the loam with our fingertips and nimble thimbles. Mind ourselves, go back to the past in some ways, homesteading.

I’d like to homestead. I’ll find the forgotten trees that belong to we. All those peaches that have been lingering decoratively. Set some bees to work on them, make them fat and juicy. Fat bees, fat peaches, me minnowing about the trees, peeling grapes from vines, climbing ladder cherries, mindful with the berries to take time, coax pull, others fall in hand.

Even the prickers are sweet, the stooping sweet, the backache sweet, the squinty sun sweet, the mosquitoes sweet, the sting of the bee, my lips.

~ Lady