which came first —
the garden or the clay man
?
the hands which planted the seeds
or the buds which pushed up the earth
neither, you contend —
the earth was formed first
before the first root or sprout
and before red dust drew breath
and which came first —
the life within you or
the nutrifying root system tethered
by the umbilical vine
?
does each attempt at life
create the need for the garden
?
and the animal and vegetable
create the need for the soil
?
(the earthly trinity)
we’re forgetting first principles, you contend —
who formed the soil which needed plant and man
to complete it
who kickstarted the feedback loop
the sky is pregnant with weather
and your body is swollen with moisture
this is the last moment the
soil and roots and child will be
one-in-three
is every dream only memory in-utero
is every prophecy of a garden past or future
?
does life always happen like this
a fall, a severance, a shutting of the gate
?
where will we be planted again