Out of the Garden, 4

When nasturtiums bloom
offering their spiced petals,
we try to be grateful.

They sprawl over the zinnias,
outgrow borders, tangle the lawn,
their rubied excess and startle of flame
make a mess of our plans.

Even pulled up by the handful
they bloom again in compost,
ribbed seeds soon sheltering
under each leaf.

What can we do but give in?
Insistent, unfathomable abundance
remakes our desires. Perhaps,
after all, this is the flower we need.

Copyright © 2007 Kathryn Kirkpatrick All rights reserved
from Out of the Garden
Mayapple Press
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission