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Poetry | December 2009

My Daughter in the Garden

By Sally Houtman

One — two — three, she counts and drops
the seeds in shallow holes. Bye-bye,
she says. See you soon! Palms pat

the dampened soil. Hands clasp and twirl
a daisy stem. One — two — three, she counts
and plucks its tattered cape. Bye-bye, she calls

to each. Petals dip and scoop the air
in their narrow sails. Away! Away! A swallow
cries. Wings scissor the ragged sky. An aircraft

roars. Sound fills my chest and drains away.
One — two — three, I count the years. Chins tilt
skyward. Hands press cool glass. Bye-bye, I say.

1 reply on “My Daughter in the Garden”

jublkesays:
January 28, 2010 at 12:52 pm

I love the first and last stanzas of this poem. I could totally see the little girl patting the earth, telling the seeds good-bye. And I could visualize the mother with her hands on the cool glass, waving her young daughter off to school. Thanks for sharing such tender moments.

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