Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Vespers

by Louise Glück

In your extended absence, you permit me 
use of earth, anticipating
some return on investment. I must report 
failure in my assignment, principally 
regarding the tomato plants.
I think I should not be encouraged to grow 
tomatoes. Or, if I am, you should withhold 
the heavy rains, the cold nights that come 
so often here, while other regions get 
twelve weeks of summer. All this 
belongs to you: on the other hand, 
I planted the seeds, I watched the first shoots 
like wings tearing the soil, and it was my heart 
broken by the blight, the black spot so quickly 
multiplying in the rows. I doubt
you have a heart, in our understanding of 
that term. You who do not discriminate 
between the dead and the living, who are, in consequence, 
immune to foreshadowing, you may not know 
how much terror we bear, the spotted leaf,
the red leaves of the maple falling
even in August, in early darkness: I am responsible 
for these vines.


2 comments:

Ashling said...

What a beautiful piece. Facing my oen garden failures this year, so can really appreciate this. But perhaps a slightly bigger font next time for older eyes?

the redhead said...

I just love her writing. She has a new book coming out soon.

I tried to make it larger initially, but I guess it didn't "take." Should be better now. :)