How to live on a farm

First get some hens 

and then 

add a hive a bees 

and make a garden with peppers and beans 

and plant some flowers. 

And then spend hours 

weeding. 

Feed the goats

and the horse, of course.

Sow some sunflowers 

for the bees. 

After the peas 

are picked 

plant some pink and purple corn 

and spend the morn 

mourning over the deer damage. 

Pull up the root 

vegetables – carrots, turnips, radish— 

and watch the shoots 

of nut grass take their place. 

And when it is hot, hot, hot 

absolutely do not 

venture past the porch, 

with a cool drink 

and time to think 

of getting ready for winter. 

Retreat to the kitchen 

and pickle and jam and can 

all that you can. 

And rejoice in abundant life: 

the earth rife 

and ripe with all that is needed…. 

even when it is not weeded!