Tending a tomato plant while the earth bleeds into the Gulf of Mexico

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Hunkered, hovering over you
clipping your lower leaves

leaving an uncluttered five inch
fur-cloaked stem 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 are
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