Garden's Trap
Andre Peltier
Come sit a while and gaze at these:
The daffodils and maple trees.
I dropped those bulbs into the earth;
They nod and laugh in fitful mirth.
Years it’s been with grass and woe.
With trowel, spade, rake and hoe,
I tilled and brought the yard to bloom.
You tilt and trod this earthy tomb
To see the garden as it is
With measured plotting analysis.
I caught your glance at yonder bud
As flows the vernal snowmelt flood.
And look at these that pierce the ground.
The holy peonies are found
To tilt with flower towards the sun
Exploding blooms in early June
And house the hungry crawling ants
Who search for nectar from the plants.
Now these are violet hyacinths,
And here the boxwood labyrinth,
And here foxglove breaking through
For summer bells erect and true.
So note the plan the plot the map,
Enjoy your time in garden’s trap.
Andre F. Peltier (he/him) is a Pushcart and two time Best of the Net nominated poet and a Lecturer III at Eastern Michigan University where he teaches literature and writing. He lives in Ypsilanti, MI, with his wife and children. His poetry has recently appeared in various publications both online and in print. His poetry collections Poplandia and Ambassador Bridge are available from Alien Buddha, and his collection Trouble on the Escarpment is available from Back Room Poetry. He has another collection forthcoming in 2024: Petoskey Stones from Finishing Line Press. In his free time, he obsesses over soccer and comic books. www.andrefpeltier.com Twitter: @aandrefpeltier