I'd Let Somebody Dig
Rachel Carmody

I’d let somebody dig
            if I but had the strength.
            Though I’ve no spade on hand,
            I’d stand aside the gate.

            Crouching in the turf
            the tip sinks low inside
            tickles roots of dandil’ons
            which feast upon the dead

            It hammers the tomato patch
            Tears out the potatoes
            Casts aside the carrots, and I swear
            Each yank grazes the lung
            And every snap tapes down the tongue

            What creature festers in her earthly womb
            A clank in coffin sores my mind to see
            And the corpse that sleeps within at any moment twitch
            or bulging empty sockets turn to me and blink—

            Yeah, if I had the strength
            I’d let somebody dig.
            But I’d rather fetch the hose on hand,
            Feed my lovely garden.