A Planting

I dug around in the soil for awhile,

pulling the weeds

(I don't know why, they grow so well)

and packing dirt into my knees.

 

Then I put down the new dirt

(because the old dirt was, well... old).

The new dirt was black

and the old dirt was pale.

 

Together they made a dismal

swirl of soils

that made me want ice-cream,

but not these flavors.

 

The flowers went in next.

I know they will be covered by weeds

within a month

but I put them in anyway.

 

I have done this for each year

since the garden was first set up

many years ago

and I will do it next year.

 

The garden proves to me

the futility of life

and the inevitability

of pushing forward.