you can’t hurry dirt

garbage to rich brown, seasons
and the efforts of millions, obedient
to life, composing, compost, calm
pose, compelled to completion

so small against it all, tidal
wave, tectonic thrust, breath
ocean exploding, green threads
back toward the sun.

does any given microbe know
daylily blooms?

And here’s the 2009 edit, from Fifth World Drum (Frontenac House).

compost
takes time
you can’t hurry dirt

to turn garbage to rich brown compost
time and the efforts of millions

does any given microbe know
the daylily blooms?

if they do not cease in their obedience to life
i too am compelled to live faithfully

really we are so small against it all
tidal wave
tectonic thrust
breath of the ocean exploded
green threads back toward the sun.

Photo courtesy WikiImages on Pixabay.com, amazing Creative Commons source.