old man garden

old man garden sifts through his soil
he can feel the scent
taste the color

he looks into his
storehouse where
he remembers, patches streaks and jumps
his senses roar
he wells up
sits
catches sight of a green bird

his memory is gone

for an instant

big drops
golden rain
splash like leaf
off his forhead
cheeks
lips
hands

he watches
for a while
"devils beatin' his wife"
he hears himself
the rain moves quick
fairy skipping
light giving
puddle bombing
rain
he breaths it in
ahhhhh life
each breath
every beat
each glimpse
a
gift

he stands
catches his eye
holding on a window of glass

"who are you"

he kicks at the soil a little
remembering
that
it ... the earth
welcomes him
always

"would you look at that..."

the
tiniest white bloom
alone
on the edge of his hoe line
holding
for life
for dear life

the beauty of it
the innocence

"death"

a mutter
he heard it

standing in the furrow

"well i'll be.."

he hears himself chuckle


"it's fine all fine"

he smiles a little

takes a few strides

swings in

closes his door

rain

in sheets