The Vegetable Gardener’s Prayer

Thoughts on the root of all things.

O Fava, who art in the garden,

Furrowed be thy brow.

The harvest comes

When work is done

On earth as it is heaven.

Give us this day bright broccoli

While removing us from pickles.

Lettuce re-kale

All the good you have done

And asparagus from evil.

May our celeries be so abundant

That we don’t ever stalk anyone,

Or worry about tomato.

When rap-scallions turnip

Trying to squash our dreams

Teach us that good avocados evil,

And that problems won’t mushroom

If we deal with them when they are just little jicamas.

Help us rutabaga out the snap peas in

Our own attitudes, remembering

We all come from the same cabbage.

Wasabi happens, let us not artichoke,

But seek arugula for the good of all.

Help us not be like potatoes, sprouting

Eyes which cannot see, especially when we

Go off half-baked on others.

May our eyes not leek anything but kindness

When we peel back Life’s onions,

And cauliflower a flower when we see

Life’s beauty.

Help us remember that brussels can sprout

Anywhere at any time,

And that no matter how dark it is right now,

Bok choy comes in the morning.

Help us rise

Above our basil instincts, and do

What we are mint to be doing,

No matter how chard it may be.

Teach us not to a-peas those acting like gherkins,

Who want to beet others down

And sow corn-fusion.

We mustard recall what we shallot due,

Come chicory or high water.

When, in pride we yell “I yam what I yam,”

Help us zip up our zucchini’s, and remember that in all things,

only Love romaines.

Thank you for the radish-all Love you have shone down upon us.

For you are, and are always,

A Gardener for Good…

A Gardener for all Thyme.

Amen.

~ Laurie Beth

Photo Credit Alexandr Podvalny Unsplash