On Gardening

She supposed he was 
The gardener—

You know—
Soil, water, mulch,
Caress their petals,
Pluck their fruit,
Snip their brittle 
Limbs;

You know—
Weed the weeds,
Root out rot,
Soften hardened 
Heartwood;

You know—
Moisten 
Dry dryad 
Mouths;

You know—
Like that 
Other gardener,
Adam—

And so,
He snipped.
“Mary.”