Gardening

Pruning the rosebush

the ache of the summer heat

on my shoulders,

the feel of the living stalk

between fingers,

petals - one, another,

then another

seek ground, life

not strong enough to hold on.

Whether it's blood

or petals, the gift

of time is a thread

I stand on,

feet covered

in the soft

broken soil,

shears meet

the slight resistance

of a living thing.

~ Jonathan Bohrn

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If people bring so much courage to this world the world has to kill them to break them, so of course it kills them. The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good, and the very gentle, and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too, but there will be no special hurry. ~ Ernest Hemingway