The Poem

Louise Plaskett

Under the half-frozen soil

A seed awakens

And starts to push away its shell

Putting forth a tiny, shivering shoot

Through the dark soil it travels

On its upward climb to light

Until, one day

The crust of springtime’s earth splits before the thrust

And the green shoot rejoices

As the world of light opens before it

And the warm rays of yellow sunshine

Welcome it and beckon to it with encouragement.

Suddenly, little shoot feels the stinky impact

Of a shovel full of aged manure

And wonders why it tried so hard to leave its safe seed.

Warm rain falls and the stench lessens

As the sinking nourishment unites with the ground

Feeding the baby plant, that it thrive

Its roots established in softened, enriched soil

Until the day when the first bloom appears.

No hint of foul odor mars its perfume

The dark humus a perfect backdrop

For the beauty of the garden.

Do you ever feel as if someone threw manure on you?

After struggling through the darkness

Finally, a ray of light

And before you can enjoy it

Buried in excrement!

To have to push further up

Through the unpleasantness.

But the trial will settle

The Water of Life will mix it with good soil

To enhance growth

And when your bloom hits its apex

And wafts sweetened fragrance to the wind around you

You will shine

A glorious flower in the garden of God.

Beauty comes at a price

So wade in the fertilizer and don’t choke on it

And don’t abandon your brothers when they’re covered in it

Grow above it by the strength of Abba, through Jesus

Drinking in His refreshing rains, washed by Him, together

Basking in His Sunshine together

Reaching up out of it together

Blooming together

Until faithful love’s perfume makes His garden a treat to the senses

All over the earth

And rises as a sweet incense offering to Heaven.

In the autumn of our lives

When our petals droop, wither, and die

That incense will bloom above eternally

Before the face of the Master Gardener.

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