Zoe's Garden

“Only outside she can put off the course
of her disease...She’ll halt a little
in her garden while a mood of peace
so fills her...”
‘Her Garden’ Elizabeth Jennings

A sense of need sends her
planting, pruning,
hoeing in between
her new-sown gyp
and love-lies-bleeding.

Her hands shake more
of late, and bending down –
a painful process, but,
somehow, she kneels,
parts the darkling earth –
lets the soil trickle
through her fingers.

Beneath a canopy of green
she leans against a rake –
breathes deep, takes
such things as can be gleaned
from fallen leaves.

It starts to rain; warm inside
she sips her tea – looks out
the window...knowing, already
her tiny seeds, have begun
their journey to the light.