On days when I’m not at my best
I feel the urge to step outside
Breath in the air
Look at my garden
Proclaim to every weed: “Today is your day.”
They roam willy-nilly
A law unto themselves.
I have this sense they see me coming
Their roots I’m sure dig a little further in
There’s a rustle among them
For in my mind I hear them conspiring.
The Bathurst Burr arms itself
The nut grass goes a little more nutty
Their take over fantasy world is under threat.
I arrive with cutters, choppers and scrapers
I arrange them like a show of strength
My weapons against their stubbornness.
And they do fight, the burr sticks to me
I find them later on socks, shorts and shirt
My hands are calloused, a thorn or two strikes victory
As I negotiate the tangle of weeds and once proud plants.
By days end I stand triumphant
In my hands the weapons of mass destruction
The garden again is mine.
But I fantasize that deep within the soil
Seedpods containing the weed troops
Are ready and waiting for when I slacken off.
Written for: https://dversepoets.com/2016/04/12/poetics-fantasia/
Morpethroad 
“weed troops” in the bunkers so to speak 🙂 Love your take on the prompt! I do remember those burrs on my socks, coming in from tromping the fields at our country place, many years ago. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Thanks Lillian, having spent the morning doing as I described it seemed the place to find my fantasy…..
I’m always finding burrs in the dog’s tail or ears. Find them on the recliner too. Can’t figure that one out. Oh yes, of course. the dog sits on my lap. I’m seriously thinking about having cement laid in the backyard…green cement 🙂
NO Lyn don’t go the green cement…..pay a child to mow your grass much softer to fall down on I have to say….
LOL how about artificial turf? Won’t have to weed or mow at all then 🙂
Yes that is true……but wouldn’t you miss the weeds sticking their heads up where you don’t want them?
No, not in the slightest 😀
Not me either…..
Yep–take out bad moods on those weeds. I actually enjoy weeding–it’s sort of Zen-like. Most of the time.
Yes you are right it does leave you feeling good…..and you know I left a few for tomorrow…..
Isn’t there are garden tool called a weed-wacker? You just sling it around and WACK, WACK — now that’s a good tool to use when you’re in a bad mood! 🙂
Yes there is Lillian and I do have one….good idea
Such a struggle to contain them ~ I specially like how you describe them:
Proclaim to every weed: “Today is your day.”
They roam willy-nilly
A law unto themselves.
I look forward to fixing up my garden when the snow finally melts ~ Good to see you Michael ~
Thanks Grace. Snow really? We finally have a coolish day….
I absolutely adore this poem 😀
Thank you Sanaa, you so enthuse me wit your comments…hope you are doing well today…
I especially love this:
“They roam willy-nilly
A law unto themselves.”
Thanks De, well at my house they do……little rascals that they are….
Oh yeah, they’re waiting alright…they have no respect for us I tell you!
Lol….you must have my weeds relatives at your place….
Haha…I think they’re all related!
“Oh, the backyard battlefield. A good piece of military writing.” She smiled.
“When I am in the garden, battling weeds, planting seeds, or harvesting, I allow only good thoughts to rattle around in my head, sing growing songs, converse, apologize for the rip/zip, and generally type to make it a peaceful experience.” “Oh course sounds meditative and zen like until I get to the part about the bugs I hate . . . “
There’s always disagreeable isn’t there, the stubborn weeds or the predatory bugs, either way it’s a struggle….
I would like to plant resilient weeds of beauty.. Fortunately our garden is woodland, so I just help the wildflowers along a little… A scythe works wonders…
That’s a good idea Bjorn…..I could have used one today…..thanks for stopping by…
Ahh, but the scythe just makes ’em angry. I swer the weeds sprout up overnight as if they never were dug. I tell them they are welcome everywhere else but they are “lawless”. Enjoyed this very much.
You are so right about their lawlessness…..they always put up a fight around here I know that…
A great reminder to put on my wellies!
Yes indeed Kim, thanks for stopping by.
Oh how I love this – but I am biased! XD
Your appreciation and absolute delving into the essence and spirit of these living things, is tremendous. It speaks to the fantastical – yes – but the mystery? Who are we to “know” the truth behind the mystic reality? And yes, the “battle” – and in the end, who really triumphs?
So many wonderful phrases and images that have absolutely tickled me happy 😀
Definitely a post I will treasure and re-read again and again.
I forgot you and your gardening background….admitting to weeds oh dear
LOL …. weeds are cool …. and if you saw the state of things where I am …. you’d be bowled over …. seriously 😀
Well a covering of snow can hide so many can’t it…..the one thing I know about weeds is they never say no despite your best efforts they come back from the dead all the time….
there are the absolute in terms of persistence and resilience 😉
Definitely a garden conspiracy…arm thyself!
Oh I am lynn, every time I go there the battle recommences…
This was a fun read. I know nothing of gardening but I’m sure does it take it seriously know exactly how you feel.
Thank you so much, gardening can be fun and have its challenges…
It is so fun to read your piece and know that bad days are perfect for weed killin in your book; definitely enough to fulfill good destruction fantasies…I get it. Did you know your poem is a really good poem to read out loud?
Well I could say all my poems are written to be read but its fun to know you have read it out loud gives it another dimension doesn’t it…..thanks Ava for stopping by.