The Garden Wall

 

A pile of shattered rock

rose up like a ragged mountain

in the driveway.

How was I going to construct

a garden wall out of

fat hunks of stone?

 

A month of

boundary violations

crumbled poor ground.

The stones of

indifference,

non existent loyalty,

betrayal,

too much light,

heat from the son,

even cows who

rammed

thick bodies

thru barbed wire

seemed intent

on blocking.

 

Attention and Intention.

Both.

 

“Just do it”

a voice said.

And I did –

stone by stone,

crafting

a half moon circle

to rest upon a straight line.

 

Roaring March winds

tangled hair into knots

nipples stood erect on my breast.

The sun burned my

shoulders as a

dream flooded my

imagination,

creating form

from visual clarity.

 

As I worked

I saw Lizards

who would

hide in the cracks,

flaming scarlet

beans

and burnt orange

nasturtiums

climbing skyward

or cascading over

ungainly stone,

bean trees or

waterfalls

vining their way

Earthward

to creep along

the desert floor.

 

I finished the wall

with an odd sense

of completion.

Through this work

I had taken

a stand against

indifference,

dismissal,

violation,

invasion

and self doubt.

 

I hoped my actions

would be enough

to fracture an old pattern.

 

Being taken over by others

obliterates the power of

this Child – Woman’s Light.