Vegie Gardening

Hoeing again today (and tomorrow). This has been going on a long, long time:

Ancient Greek iron hoe (Kerameikos Archaeological Museum)
Ancient Greek iron hoe (Kerameikos Archaeological Museum)

 

Hoeing: John Updike (1932-2009)

‘I sometimes fear the younger generation will be deprived

of the pleasures of hoeing;

there is no knowing

how many souls have been formed by this simple exercise.

 

The dry earth like a great scab breaks, revealing

moist-dark loam—

the pea-root’s home,

a fertile wound perpetually healing.

 

How neatly the green weeds go under!

The blade chops the earth new.

Ignorant the wise boy who

has never rendered thus the world fecunder.’

 

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmail

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *