Two Gardens
by Travis Atkinson
(c) 2020

I am growing two Gardens
One for the darkness and another for the soul
Far away from autumn harvest
Planting seeds, not knowing how they’ll grow

Shade for one and sunlight for another
The days go fast, but the hours slow
No surprises will rise to the surface, this I know
You reap what you sow
But still I watch them grow

I am growing two gardens
Passion and poison infesting the same land
Summer rain falls warm and heartless
Soon the fruits will be gathered by these hands

Underground nature follows the orders
Written down so long ago
I will never claim to understand the subtleties below
Or the players in this show
But still I watch them grow

I am growing two gardens
Roots and leaves make the most of fertile ground
Smell the season, see the harvest
Best intentions have been scattered all around

On my knees I am finding the pieces
Of this weary broken soul
I must choose which garden can stay and which must go
But the answer I don’t know And still I watch them grow