When we plant blueberry bushes or asparagus

With this very early spring, and little winter, I wonder whether the we had a complete-enough cycle this year, particularly a complete-enough Northern Illinois cycle.  I wonder how it will manifest itself in the longer scheme of things.  Meanwhile I*m keeping an eye on the asparagus patch at church.

When we plant blueberry bushes

Or asparagus,

We speak

Permanence,

Or at least

Green hope and promise

For the future.

We say we will be here

For a long long time

To watch and wait.

We say

We expect a harvest

In years to come.

When we plant the over-winter plants,

The growth that needs one hard frost

Or two

Or three,

We will to wait.

We speak the possibility

Of harvest

In years to come.

But first we pray

For that first hard frost.

We dance at new signs of life

In spring.

We look under leaves

For the signs

All is well.

We wait for the cycle

To go around

Once again.