The Morning News
August 15, 2021
As Kabul tottered
I dead-headed the dahlias in my garden,
Cutting away the fading blooms of past brilliance.
I severed young blossoms from their green stems
To enjoy them for a day or two
Confined to a vase.
As Afghan girls and women were forced into undesired marriages
Invading deer had torn the unripe apples from my trees.
Scattered on the ground, they will never come to full sweetness.
I surrender them to the slugs and maggots.
Soon they will vanish and I will forget to mourn the lost harvest.
As rescuers sifted the fallen walls in Haiti
And dreaded the coming storm
I raked the dead plants from my garden
And considered if there would be rain or if I needed to water.
As the unhoused in the sprawling cities
Cowered in fear of the coming day's heat
I gave water and food to my chickens.
I moved the more tender potted plants into shelter.
As I filled my bird feeders with fresh seed
I thought,'perhaps I should build more bird houses'.
As hospitals filled in Texas and Florida
I triaged my potted plants.
This one is too old to bear more flowers; discard it.
It is too late in the year for these seedlings to flower.
Pull them out; make space for more useful plants.
I return to the house and scowl at the muttering radio.
What is it blathering about now?
I change the channel.
I make myself a fresh pot of steaming tea
And hear only the music I choose.
Copyright Megan Lindholm 2021