dVerse Poets – Poetics – Purple Patch
Sarah at dVerse has invited us to write about vegetable gardening, using a list of plants provided.
Photo: found on multiple sites.
“Cares melt when you kneel in your garden.” Okakura Kazuko
Once It Begins
Once it begins it begins,
but to begin at all I too must begin,
and so to move towards that which
consumes my energy even before I start,
just to acknowledge the needs of the soil,
to rejuvenate to a friable tilth,
removing winter’s detritus,
the stalks of old and to
boldly plunge in as so often before,
once it begins with spade and hoe,
stakes and twine, bags and jars,
it gathers pace and the vision grows,
worlds erupt and the magic flows,
plans expand beyond the Nile
for a harvest of harvests,
of crucifers and kales,
tubers and climbers,
the table bowed,
as kitchen rejoices
in purple swords,
czar, blue fire,
and aurora too,
knife and fork,
the juices flow,
once it begins.
©Paul Vincent Cannon
Paul, pvcann.com
parallax 
You have captured well the joy of gardening. This suits my husband to a “t'”.
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For me it begins with procrastination, just that little resistance, but then it’s overdrive and such fun. Thank you for sharing that Sandy.
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Like so many things, once we get moving, we wonder why the hesitation.
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Yes, that’s so true, I did push through today and nailed a fair bit so … yes, why indeed.
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I often think how it seems children must intentionally stop moving and adults must intentionally get moving (lol).
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So true, now you mention it 🙂 I guess we know the end result 🙂
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Reblogged and posted on Facebook… Great poem… had to smile, I am a big gardener…more big in enthusiasm and small in garden than when younger… Old house we had huge garden… no veggies except herbs and all cout clowers and decorative perennials and so forth.. zinnias coming up now… real cook spring here… columbines, bleeding hearts and such all beautiful this year… would show you but don’t know how to post pics on somebody’ else’s site.
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Thank you Nat, yes, I’ve had big gardens in the past, especially when we were farming, but now quite compact, and manageable 🙂 the only way I know to share photos here is if you have a URL to another site to link it like face book.
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cut clowers
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I did smile, namely because, I do it too.
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Can’t see to type today… all grey and yuk.
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O, not so good.
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Wonderful ode to gardening Paul. I too love to garden.There is something holy about it. Perhaps it’s the act of creating something beautiful where once there was nothing.
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I would wholeheartedly agree with you Linda, I remember some of your photos too, lovely garden you have, which bears out your mindful response, thank you.
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A pleasure to read your words!
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Thank you so much Linda.
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😊🙏🏻☮️
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Nice lines: “it gathers pace and the vision grows,
worlds erupt and the magic flows,”
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Fingers crossed, into it today! Thank you so much Frank for your response.
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I had to look up ‘friable tilth’. 😀
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I used to work in horticulture, and I farmed for a short time, so it just drops out in my writing now and again 🙂 thank you for your response, and that you pursued the meaning, I admire that.
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My pleasure, friend. I very much enjoy your work. 🕊
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A magical experience of something so simple and true.
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Spoken as one who gardens I’m assuming 🙂 it is such a wondrous thing across the world. Thank you for sharing that Astrid.
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Every year, when we prepare the garden, I have that hope for “a harvest of harvests with the table bowed, as kitchen rejoices.” (Otherwise known as hope springs eternal.)
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Yes, after grubs and bugs, frost and hail, birds and mice, what’s left … 🙂
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Don’t forget the deer and rabbits. They take their share as well. And yet, each year I harbor the same illusions of bounty.
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Lol. We don’t have wild deer here, rabbits yes, and small mammals do some dammage, I have the same illusion. 🙂
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🙂
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I love this – so true of us
>
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Thank you Lyn, it is indeed our song.
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It’s funny, but that’s just how it goes. Yard work and growing things, healthy things, are some of life’s greatest joys.
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Yes, like today, it’s taken me two days to push into it fully, but now its under way … I like your thoughts, a big yes to that.
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I love this, Paul! The slow start, the planning and preparing, and then your words pick up pace and your garden sprouts and grows, and yields its bounty. Clever stuff 🙂
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So enjoyed your response Chris, it is purely autobiographical 🙂
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May you reap the rewards of your horticultural efforts 🙂
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I like to share – birds, bugs and frost 🙂 but hoping for something 🙂
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I just planted some herbs, pepper, and cucumber. We are getting good rain this spring. 🙂
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A blessing indeed, yes I’ve put in herbs, and some potatoes, spinach and bok-choy, beans next week.
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I fully agree to sandyjwhite’s comment. Thank you for the positive thoughts. Best wishes for the weekend. Michael
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Can’t beat a bit of digging 🙂 thank you Michael.
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😉 Thank you too Paul! Enjoy your weekend too.
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Saturday morn here.
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Great! You can see the sun, we at 1:40 a.m. only a night full of rain. Would not regret as it would have someone like in the movie “Casablanca”. Lol
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Great movie, one of my faves. I hear you 🙂
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