TESSA’S GARDEN

by

Andrew O. Leskinen

My daughter and I planted a garden today

It’s not very big; it’s tucked in back and out of the way

I’d like to have a larger one that covered more ground

But when I was eyeing the front lawn, I saw my wife frown

We planted peas, carrots, corn and lettuce

Just how deep an eighth of an inch is was beyond us

So we dug a little furrow, threw in some seeds

Covered it all up as pretty as you please

It was then I saw my little girl stare

She said, we forgot to plant some there

So she dug right in, going in every direction,

Poking and digging, as I watched in admiration

She didn’t read the packet directions,

To see how deep, how close, or who their neighbors would be

She scattered the seeds like God intended

Everyone all mixed together, not standing apart

She mixed the lettuce with the peas, the onions with the flowers,

The carrots with the beans, all to grow, to live,

And to thrive together, not knowing,

And not minding who their neighbors would be

When she had finished and all the seed packets were empty

We stood back and looked at her little salad bowl garden

And God and she beamed with pride at a job well done