Diggin' in the Dirt

diggin in the dirt

diggin' in the dirt
gotta shift these clannish hostas
shift these squatters from this rocklined bed

I'm wearing calf-high boots and shorts
so I can jump on a shovel
and dig in the dirt

sweat rolls down my sides
tickling trickling

diggin' in the dirt
whippin' up pottin' soil cocktails
to fill buckets, to fatten roots
to infuse the plant with happy plantness
so it will tender sweet fruit in thanks.
an old copper colander whirls in the afternoon sun
shifting, sifting, treasures and trash
add a bit of peat moss and last year's old pot of soil
whose withered tomato thrusts chalk white brittle fingers through the dirt
I plunge my fingers into the heady mix
and use my black hand to threaten those nearby with dastardly deeds...
ah, diggin in the dirt.