Tending tomato plants while the earth
bleeds into the Gulf of Mexico
Hunkered, hovering over you
clipping your lower leaves
leaving uncluttered five inch
fur-cloaked stems from soil to crown
I imagine your crimson future
your load of plump red planets
waiting to be plucked
weighted stalks drooping
—just a trellis keeping you
from collapse
the way the cosmos
is kept by the tension of heat and gravity
from collapse
the way we’re
kept by the tension of lust and love
the lust and love of all our senses
from collapse
the way nature,
if she is honored, keeps our being
from collapse
hovering here on my knees
hoping to taste the sweet juice
of your red future
by Jim Culleny
June 17, 2010