Seeds and Ashes

Maple sap dribbles into buckets.
Stray weeds poke from under curled leaves.
What we pried up cannot re-root.
What we had planted will need to be pruned.
We will select seeds and saplings,
pray new life bless thumbed ashes
and grace coax roses from thorns.

By Michael Barrett

(Michael Barrett is a member of St. Philip Neri Parish in Indianapolis.)