Yard soil sits in a wheelbarrow.
She takes it to her gardening shed,
prepares it with nitrogen, compost,
feels the texture, examines the mix,
breaks up the unusable chunks of hard dirt.

On her worktable are tender young plants
ready for their new home.
Her care for them is finer
than the tousled hair she pinned up quickly
or the kids, readied for school
with a bowl of cereal and quick kiss.

She gives her plants all the elements
that will later produce smiles from the neighbors,
curb appeal for her home,
a pleasant site to savor every morning
over breakfast and coffee.

© by Bradley Thomas.
Used here with the author’s permission.