Collards

This poem was inspired, no surprise, by the humble act of washing collards before cooking them. If nothing else comes from this poem, at least the greens tasted good! Thanks for coming by to read.

The subtle ecosystem of the collard green:

It looks as though there’s nothing there at all.

For what could hide itself beside its silver sheen,

Its veins so white and greens so lush and tall?

And yet, you dunk the leaves inside a sink, all chopped,

And let them sink, release their hidden gems,

And then, upon removal to the steaming pot,

The soaking water’s choked with floating friends.

As many as the shimmers in the sparkling sky,

As many, as the fishes in the sea,

So many live upon the collard, do or die,

And just as many live on you and me.

Of all the many souls upon this crowded Earth,

Of all the mouths to feed and lungs to breathe,

I, like the collard, stand, up to my knees in dirt,

Dispensing vital nourishment, as feed.

And should I now complain, that those I benefit

Should make their own way, leave me well alone?

Where would I be, had no one smoothed my way a bit?

Which one of us

Is strong enough

To make it on our own?

Copyright 2022 Andrea LeDew

For other garden poems, read Cicadas and Garden Come Summer.