My
garden is grander than Eden
It bears more fruit than all the orchards and vineyards unfurling
on all the hottest hillsides
of Jordan
It bears figs pears grapes wilder sweeter pinker than all the
dreams
painted on Joseph's coat
My garden grows trees taller than the mast ships sailing over
the towers of Troy
and their leaves are leafier
and more plentiful than plantations
on all the islands Ulysses
sailed among the ten years he sailed home
and Jason while he was riding
out to find the fleece
It sprouts ferns wider than any prairie
plumier than pampas
paler than alfalfa
and their fronds are longer
than Samson's hair before Dalila felled it
stronger than the sinews in
the arms of Hercules when he embraced the snakes
tastier than the tips of asparagus
in the middle of winter.
My garden has a ground that heaves like Eve
bearing all the children of
the world
that rises like Adam
the afternoon he pointed out
and named all the flowers
and they are redder than apples
than peppers than paper poppies
than fire engines careening
the light white night
of a small boy's private nation.
My garden wears roses like Mexican hats
rhododendron like gates
heather like wild geese wings
flapping furiously
and then furiously holding
still.
My garden is green
My garden sings
My garden is mine.
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