On Gardening

She supposed he was
The gardener—

You know—
Soil, water, mulch,
Caress their petals,
Pluck their fruit,
Snip their brittle
Limbs;

You know—
Weed the weeds,
Root out rot,
Soften hardened
Heartwood;

You know—
Moisten
Dry dryad
Mouths;

You know—
Like that
Other gardener,
Adam—

And so,
He snipped.
“Mary.”