Prompt: Each Garden is a Grave (after Richard Howard)

 "Each garden is a grave" (after Richard Howard, prompt from The Writer's Retreat Kit by Judy Reeves)


Each garden is a grave
life's decay enriches
the very soil
under your feet.
Leaves crumple to the ground
as the autumn winds blow
the world above lies in slumber.
Underneath the seeds
are dormant
in the arms of darkness
They sleep
the temperature dips
far below what life demands.
Some take their last breath
and their blanket is
cold icy earth.
But it doesn't last forever.
Before long new life
springs forth from the old
awakens and stretches out
arms to the sun.
And shines in all its glory
the warm rays
bathes it with their favor.
Short and fleeting
Till Nature's cycle runs its course.
Till arms grow heavy and droop
beautiful colors fade
roots wither and die
petals scatter like insects
to nourish the dark loam
that will harbor the next generation
at the very same place
the very same time.
Over and over over again.