Undone
thoughts streaming unconsciously
the first sunny day in a week
(even here in this city of clouds and winds
it also rises)
and I stand embarrassed by my own intrusion
the garden caught in the act
of letting its hair down
(look what one week of rain can do)
hail the mighty nettles
the European ginseng I have heard them called
almost a cure-it-all
a single dandelion
peers out of a gap between the stones
like a sun made for ants
some love the salad but no
too bitter
unlike the chickweed
now carpeted over all the beds
maybe if I stand
long enough
my helpless arms heavy with the weight of indecision
thoughts undone
[unfiltered unhinged]
chickweed will creep up my legs
cover my eyes so that I no longer see
the single spot of blue underneath
forget-me-not
makes me wonder what such minikin flowers can know about memory
personally
I always preferred bluebells
and still remember
the first time I saw them
a clearing in the middle of the forest
near where we lived
the meadowy whiff
on a sunny day in the summer
(not exactly like today)
[that sun was brighter stronger continental climate no smell of the sea however old or young you were]
when I leaned down and they took my breath away
perfectly delicate
the sky shade of blue
shake shake
[because bells should toll, right?]
(can the ants hear)
the rustling on the verge of hearing
sh-sh sh-sh sh-shshsh
shall we go said grandma it’s getting late
and helped me pick a bouquet tiny like my palms
grandma
my first encyclopaedia
of flowers
herbs
and other living creatures
everything wants to live
she would say when my nimble fingers
kept reaching for flowers stalks branches snails ants
actually
this is why I will never be
a good gardener
maintaining a garden requires the mastery
of life and death
[that filter I lack]
weeding causes pain
to the weeds
and I cannot choose
who should live
and who deserves no place
in the flowerbed
grandma with her rescue cats
nearly frozen birds found in the snow
one stray girl
(they always lived in the end
even the foundling budgie who remained
when she left forever)
her patch of strawberries
[smelling of sunlight and juice
tasting of heaven]
was always free of weeds
how did she do it
I wonder
looking at the unkempt beds as
my heart aches
About the Creator
Katarzyna Popiel
A translator, a writer. Two languages to reconcile, two countries called home.
Reader insights
Nice work
Very well written. Keep up the good work!
Top insight
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
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Comments (23)
A delightful read! I’m not a gardener but especially liked: “ weeding causes pain to the weeds and I cannot choose who should live and who deserves no place in the flowerbed grandma with her rescue cats nearly frozen birds found in the snow one stray girl”💖 It’s currently Spring in Australia & I’m enjoying visiting beautiful parks and gardens.🤩
So Fantastic Oh My God❤️Brilliant & Mind Blowing Your Story, Please Read My Stories and Subscribe Me
Brilliant work 👏
This is beautiful and passionately written Katarzyna!! It made me smile and miss my grandma... congrats on top story!!
well written
Beautiful!! 💕💗💕
Great Top Story 💖… poignant. I love: “ everything wants to live she would say when my nimble fingers kept reaching for flowers stalks branches snails ants actually”✅
So wonderful! Read this a day or two ago but didn't have a chance to comment. Some exquisite and deep thoughts here, expressed beautifully :)
I knew I had something to come back and read. Sorry I waited so long to do it. This was just...beautiful. A masterpiece. I loved how the stream flowed and how you let it go the direction it wanted, your thoughts wanted. And of course, your beautiful words. Like Caroline, love that line about the garden caught in the act of letting its hair down and the part about the chickweed. So evocative and descriptive. Stunning writing, Katarzyna, a well-deserved Top Story and amazing entry for the challenge, Congrats!
So beautiful.
Love this line - the garden caught in the act of letting its hair down. This was so good. What a great top story.
So lovely 🥰 Made me think of my grandma who was a green fingered domestic goddess. Congratulations for TS x
Such a beautiful poem! I hate weeding for this reason too (some weeds are actually very pretty). Congratulation on Top Story. Well deserved!
Nice! Congratulations🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🥳👏
This was really quite lovely and so thoughtful. Loved the imagery. Gorgeous piece :)
Subscribed. 🤗
Lots of things to think about in this excellent SOC
Back to say WELL DONE! Glad this one got TS 😁
Congrats on the TS.
Gorgeous 👌👏💘
a sun made for ants - I love that!
Oh my goodness. This is incredibly beautiful. Well done.
This is PHENOMENAL!! My word, Katarzyna! I want to elaborate, but honestly I’m speechless…