City Seeds (2024)
Blood painted concrete. A city landscape,
overgrown, unruly with violence.
Families surrendered belonging.
Felt the rhythm of the city, and fled
shaking. A sunflower blooms and turns,
unintentionally feeds a family of birds.
The Farmer hums a tune, working,
waiting, collecting wayward seeds.
Rediscovered roots, in rural land. Happy
in a state of growth, a homestead in North Georgia,
learning the difference, between sprout and sapling.
Frost arrests the field. Crops yield.
They bring home something new.
Seasons are cycles to which mankind
is bound. The city reaches, but they keep out
of touch. Home is where her heart is
Safe. Perennial spirits return to growth,
with twice the branches, flowers then fruit.
One year later, the home's steady.
They name the crows on the fence.
This murder, a blessing. Astonishing
all, avoiding drought. Oh the miracle
of timely rain. They know what it is now,
to smell of earth, to sense a storm coming.
There is wonder in the water, no? Grow
or wilt.
Families of birds are fed each morning.
The smell of fresh hay. Again a harvest,
once more a frost. The thrum of the cycle.
New life, all around, surrounding.
Flowers thriving—vs. dying,
Lying atop a casket.
An old rooster crows,
Good Mourning. 


This is beautiful, NJ. 🙏❤️
"This murder, a blessing." My favorite line. I love this journey from city to country and beyond. Excellent poem, NJ.