Ode to a weed (It's really worth the read)

My wife has surprised me on many occasions. She has introduced me to people I'm so grateful to know. She has taken me to events that wowed my soul, and she has looked after my health with greater fervor than I like to admit, but it's the truth.

This surprise, however, just knocked my socks right off my feet! I have been writing for some time. I've had articles published on line, but most of what I write stays close to home. I just find a special kind of joy, as most writers do, in just writing for the pleasure of expressing myself. One special joy for me is writing poetry about the simple things in life, especially the quirky little, sometimes unnoticeable, events that happen when we're paying attention to the natural world around us. I don't pay attention to these moments too often, except when I'm with Sophia, my wife, because that's what feeds her soul and makes her whole and happy. When she's happy, I like to watch her because it makes me appreciate life all the more.

The following was written by my wife to a new friend she had recently met. She's a natural networker and I always have admired the relationships she has developed over the years. I was touched by this most recent communique.

"Hi Pat,
Just spoke with your lovely wife. She kindly directed me to the website for submission information. I was recently given a gift subscription of your magazine by a friend who lives in Virginia. I was surprised when I saw that you and I are neighbors since I live in Asheville...small world :) If you should publish this please feel free to adjust the format of the poem since I am not sure what the proper way is. I have also attached a picture I took that day of a butterfly on the red clover.
Thanks so much! Sophie"

My story is as follows....Bruce and I (Sophia) moved to the area a year ago from Richmond, VA and live in an apartment in Asheville where my gardening is limited at best ...much to my dismay. I am forever trying to find ways to grow herbs and veggies in a limited area on our porch and dream of having a real garden! So my eyes are always scanning the horizon for herbs that nature places on my path. One day I was walking around Beaver Lake and my heart smiled when I saw a bountiful field of Red Clover blossoms with beautiful yellow butterflies dancing among the blossoms as they drank in the nectar!!! I ran to the car and pulled out one of my many reusable grocery bags and proceeded to fill her up with beautiful dark pink blossoms. It was somewhat of a race since at that time the grounds keeper was at that very moment mowing the whole area and decapitating the beautiful red clover! When our eyes met he rode his giant weed whacker over to where I was picking. "What ya doing?", he asked. I told him about the red clover blossoms and how they only bloomed every other year and that I wanted them for their medicinal properties. Then he proceeded to tell me about how he was raised on a farm and that his father always had red clover for the cows to feed on. It was a lovely conversation about days of old with a new friend.

When our conversation had expired he looked over his shoulder and said, "I'll go to the other end of the park to mow and wait for you to finish picking here....that way you will have time to get what you want." I thanked him for his thoughtfulness and we exchanged our good-byes. I picked until my bag was full and walked back to the car with a full heart and gratitude for my good fortune.

When my husband came home from work he saw me carefully washing the beautiful blossoms and then laying them out on a makeshift rack to dry. I told him about my discovery and he asked me what their properties were and what it would do for someone if they drank the infusions that I would one day make from the dried blossoms. I proceeded to explain to him the many benefits of red clover and he smiled at my excitement over my great find. Later that night I found a beautiful butterfly card that had been placed on my desk with this poem he had written inside of it and thought it might bring a smile to your readers. It is as follows....

I stand among the gardens

next to the flowers of Great Prize.

I grow far quicker than they do,

I’m bigger than their size.

And though I have some qualities

Of the flowers of Great Prize,

I’m pulled and picked and shunned because

Of all the silly lies.

I look as fine as they do, see?

And often do great deeds.

But I’m tossed away like some old news

Because they call us weeds.

And one day they will know the truth

When all is said and done

When weeds don’t grow in the garden of life

And the flowers heal no one.

Please don't pick me!
I belong here.
After all, everyone needs
to be loved and Weeded!