Unlike freeverse that we're used to reading, this poem is a "villanelle", which is of French origin, and requires a certain rhyme scheme, as well as certain repeating lines. You might remember Dylan Thomas' famous poem, "Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night", which is a villanelle. I wrote this four years ago before I knew what perimenopause was.

SOUL GARDENING - A VILLANELLE
by T. Freeman, 4/2002

Among my garden plants, I breathe a sigh;
tenacious thoughts invade my nurtured fold.
I pull my troubling weeds and let them die.

Cilantro scents the air as I brush by
and lends assurance, spicy, brash and bold.
Among my garden plants, I breathe a sigh.

A thorny thistle poses threat so sly
to tender roots of weak and modest hold.
I pull my troubling weeds and let them die.

Upon a trellis, dainty tendrils tie
their vines of peas, as blooms of pink unfold.
Among my garden plants, I breathe a sigh.

A tufted titmouse chits from branches high
and watches as I mulch with leafy mold.
I pull my troubling weeds and let them die.

At last, a peace of mind I can't deny
is thriving well within, my heart consoled.
Among my garden plants, I breathe a sigh.
I pull my troubling weeds and let them die.

OMG!!
That's EXACTLY what I sent to the Horticultural society

(Not in those words)

But the scents, the smells....
The feel

I had mint planted in the centre of my driveway, just so when a car came in, there was a waft of fragrance

My indoor (and only let out under supervision) cats played with the squirrels, showed them who's boss.

I NEED to get my hands back into the earth, help something grow.....

Cause that will help the weeds die!

Thanks, and WELCOME SPRING

Hi Chefmarr,

Thanks so much for your positive, encouraging remarks! And, as I told you in the other thread about gardening, good luck with the Horticultural Society -- let's hope they have an open mind and give you free reign to be creative, to let you get some dirt beneath your fingernails and create some magic!

Speaking of mint, I love how it spreads. From my garden, it has spread into the grass and when it's mowed... Ahhhh.... the most heavenly scent! And when it blooms, have you ever noticed how much life hovers around it? I've counted half a dozen or more types of bees, and of course there's the butterflies. You'll have to grow some catnip for your kitties if you don't have some growing already. My cats are wild about it.

Thanks to you, I AM looking forward to Spring now! Thanks for such an enthusiastic and positive comment. I truly appreciate it.

RedFox

Haven't heard back from the Hort Soc, but it IS the weekend!
In the mean time I have been talking to friends and have discovered a HUGE perenial base for my garden.
Anyone who has perenials eventually has perenials to share, and would be happier if they could go into a garden rather than the compost -- I certainly know that sad, sad feeling when everything is just doing TOO well .
I'm thinking that I will invest in seeds to get some annuals and herbs started and if THEY won't let me play in THEIR garden, I have a whole waterfront to play with. I'll do my own thing!

We're back down to minus double-digits © here again, but the signs are definately there that Spring is in the air!! Wiarton Willie knows his stuff!

Oh, catnip is DEFINITELY on the menu. I also do crafts stuff that I sell at a local store. Leather mice, large and small, stuffed with a bit o' the nip are always popular, and you can't beat home-grown

Hi Chefmarr,

I'm sorry to have left your comment hanging. I thought I was being so thorough and had thanked you for coming back in here with such encouraging words. Brain Fog is thick these days!!

I just have to tell you how much I love and appreciate your enthusiasm -- geez, you said you're down in the minus double-digits, but know Spring is coming. You have such a positive attitude and I'm delighted that it's rubbing off on me. You have brightened my day! Spring arrived yesterday, and although it feels chilly and damp outside, I can hear the birds singing at this moment, so that's a definite sign that Spring is indeed here.

About the catnip -- that's so cool that you do crafts and make leather mice, etc. I find that my cats don't much care for the fresh catnip, which is fine with me, because I know cats can really trample the plants. They prefer it dried, so after I dry it, I take a little square of cloth, lay on a couple tablespoonfuls of catnip, then tie it up with a cord that doesn't fray. After it loses it potency, I untie it, toss the old stuff out and put fresh stuff in. It's all so much fun!

Good luck with your garden!!

RedFox