& these are my tomatoes

planted 24 varieties this year

been collecting seeds, trading

for almost a decade

here I feel

                    like a patriarch

fingers splayed, laying hands

blessing the rows

like a wife, these plants respond

well to attention, a gentle sweep

of the leaves, tickle of the flower

& they won’t stop giving

now,

              bring your palms to your face,

inhale

oh, that smell

can you imagine?

after all these years

I still can’t find the right words

to describe their scent

From Glossolalia (Anvil Press, 2013).

Used with permission of the publisher.

Order online or directly from www.anvilpress.com.