There's nothing
at first. So, I wait while
in the soil, seeds I planted slowly,
but with purpose, start to
germinate.
Patience. You need patience. A bit of luck, too. Then you need to believe that it will happen, while now and then lending a helping hand. That is how I grew my avocado trees. They’re not fully grown yet, so there will not be fruits this year, or next year, but they have survived for three years and a move. So, it’s going quite well. All I did, was putting the stone (or is it pit) into a bit of soil. In the garden. I just made sure that that the pot in which I had put that all was not getting too dry. Then, nothing happens. For a while. Until… a little tree starts growing.
Not long ago, a Dutch supermarket chain handed out little boxes with seeds and dried soil in them. From this, you could grow your own vegetable garden. Tomatoes, courgette, different herbs. That process is a bit quicker. And much fun for the children. In one cycle, you can watch the seeds develop into something you can actually eat. That’s magical.
Now, with autumn coming, we will probably plant some chestnuts and acorns. Or maybe another avocado.
What will you sow to see grow?
Something to listen to
This week’s poem is available in audio format. It’s part of a collection with more poems from this magazine, so feel free to listen to the others as well:
I found this podcast about poetry, in which Ada Limon introduces a poem and reads it. Short episodes (like our own podcast), so very much worth the try. Share an episode you recommend in the comments below, please.
Now, play the game of guess-the-movie with our September playlist:
Poetry elsewhere
Punit’s poems are a delight, always. But when he writes about Amsterdam (where I once lived) and dogs, that’s a golden combination. Read his lovely poem A Very Good Boy (and subscribe):
Adora Williams writes poems that make you think, and have really good ideas in them. Like these Urban Anti Stanzas in which she discusses the deepness that exists in insignificance and loosening the concepts of life. Ideas that are very close to my heart. Enjoy reading them here:
Art can be a quest. A quest to find inner peace, redemption, love. That quest can lead to beautiful poetry, like this poem, Strange Landscapes, by Kayro Iwry. Well, to be honest, I think that is the poet’s name. In the web3 world, the world of NFTs, most people don’t use their real name. Anyway, the poem is wonderful and bilingual. Read Strange Landscapes.
Great playlist! Having fun trying to guess each movie.
In our garden most things have already grown, but a few are still coming in. Mostly peppers and a basil...
Very nice!😍 I also love planting and gardening, and the flowering and harvesting are my favourite phases.
Your poem is very beautiful, Arjan!
Thanks for sharing the picture of your avocado, lines and podcast... I love first to read poems by my own rhythm and intonation, and then, I am curious to listen to how authors read their lines, just to compare how we differ in the interpretation and mood.