A Poem by Sasha Kasoff

The Garden

You don't weed it as often as you should.
You know that.
You like to let it overgrow a bit.

You like the idea of abundance,
but you've planted things you'd rather have less of;
you don't want to eat those fruits.
You may cringe at their bounty,

but the snails are overfond of them,
leaving their silvery trails glistening over the green foliage,
over the ripening tomatoes.
The damp shade is full of them,
skirting the repellent you have scattered.

But your garden also has mysteries:
purple beans, volunteers, and pinstriped watermelons appear out of the leaves.
The lemons are a sunny yellow,
waiting to jab you with a thorn when you come to harvest.
You may complain there is never enough of the good stuff,
your favorite fruits don't flower--
but tend it well and you will reap your greatest desires.

Sasha Kasoff's poetry can be found in two self-published books and many anthologies, magazines, and other literary presses all over the world.  She is currently earning her MA in Creative Writing at Oxford Brookes University in England.  Look for her author pages on Goodreads, Facebook, and at SashaWrites.com