pulling Ailanthus altissima at a Virginia volunteer farm

[joel]

With tree of heaven taken-over fields
of flower-white potatoes and the taste
of dismal summer morning moistened rains
that touch, but never overtake, the sky
and all its dome encapsulates, he stretched
a hose and worked the irrigation lines—
and even if the rains were here, the weeds
were lush and flowers plentiful, some needs
of preparation trumped more stable signs
of creature comforts; earnest duty fetched
his need to garden, need to multiply
prosperity (or chance for such)—and gains
he trusted certainly he met with haste
judiciously for faith creation yields.

[Doreen Peri]

i swear to god you are the reincarnation of some famous poet ... i'm just not sure which one

excellent work