Gary Margolis
Shovel and Rake
Even in battle, crops and sacred objects
must always be spared. –Mohammed
Praise to the prophet I think, looking
out on my wife's garden, her wavy
rows and beds of mulch.
Praise to this piece of yard she can
bury her knees and dig her hands into.
Praise to the warrior who walks by her,
weeding, his spear dripping on the dirt
road, who looks over her way,
in a way I believe he doesn't see her,
snapping peas and pulling up
the dirty bulbs of the beets.
Who recognizes the way she has
leaned the shovel against the rake
so they can be seen by anyone
returning with blood on his hands.
Who is looking over the old hay fields
at the smoke which is having its own trouble
rising and not praising her pepper's fire.
Gary Margolis, Fire in the Orchard, Autumn House Press, 2002.