My Garden

My garden has taken work and time
to become the haven for wildlife
Í planted trees, dug out a stubborn weed
made sure rain sinks into the ground

My path gets tufts of weed, I leave them
critters live and hibernate in them
I take them out late in spring, to start
another year of growth, it’s valuable

Eventually, I took away the grass, no time
or energy to mow, replaced with moss
and gravelly stones in between the flowers
low maintenance is my key, and pleasure

Birds visit each day, bees, butterflies and moths
they pollinate, make good company, my haven
designed for them and me. A place to sit
a rest a while with my friends and family

Hanging baskets now adorn the walls, blooms
trail and grow upright too, wish I’d done before
No annuals, just self seed, or grow from year to year
my own sweetest fruit and vegetables are cropped

Published in Wood Workers of The World Unite

The Path We Take

I started out full of hope
travel, people, cuisines
adventure and experiences

I never lacked male company
men were falling for me
I could not see it

you wooed me, manipulating
I tried to resist that, stay myself
you were a bully, I didn’t see

until too late, although
I wept with joy at our wedding
my love was too blind

you wanted me to be happy
it’s true, but your seed made
a child inside me, a life

I nurtured, but you made war
the conflict was too much
you made holes in my soul

or fitted in the ones already there
poison spilled in as I chose my child
not you, who never honored me

you undermined until the hole
swallowed me, finding I was hiding
cash to make an escape

when I told you to go you blamed me
for your past, I never realised
I would pay for it too

take your past, your disrespect, your blame
it is not mine, though I fought your battle
no more, no more, no more

I will walk alone rather than with you
who mocks, disrespects, has no regard
alone is far richer, more peaceful

I choose it over you, who destroyed
my self belief, my confidence, my being
peace is mine now, joy comes my way

Published in Contemplate