INTO THE EARTH
by Rachel Barenblat
I always plant during Sukkot.
First I unearth stones, the natural crop
of New England soil, then swap in
bulbs, like oversized cloves
of garlic, pointy ends facing up
to catch the snowmelt, signal
it’s time to awake and arise
like the daughters of Jerusalem
in white May-apple dresses
dancing their way to prayer.
Everything shifts at this season.
The signs read “apples” now,
“cider,” “shallots,” not “zucchini”
or “butter and sugar corn.”
Even the trees change clothes.
I’ve worked hard to stockpile
the year’s supply of hope
safely. Birds peck kernels
from the roof of our sukkah, as if
they know where we’re headed.
Rachel Barenblat is the author of three chapbooks of poems, the skies here (Pecan Grove Press, 2000), What Stays (Bennington Writing Seminars Alumni Chapbook Series, 2002), and chaplainbook (Laupe House, 2006).She holds an MFA from Bennington. She is also a student in the ALEPH Rabbinic Studies Program, with hopes of eventual ordination. She blogs at www.velveteenrabbi.com .
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Thanks for printing this, Tom. I'm really glad you like it.
Posted by: Rachel | May 07, 2006 at 11:42 AM
Rachel, it is I who thank you for allowing me to print this. The poem is lovely, and this is our "into the earth" season here for the hardiest of growing things.
Posted by: Tom Montag | May 07, 2006 at 12:56 PM
What a beautiful heralding of Spring! Thank you Rachel, and than you Tom for pubishing it.
Posted by: Catherine Windsor+ | May 09, 2006 at 03:52 PM
What a trip around the calendar! Fall to spring to fall to summer and winter. Fall.
And what a light touch. Thanks for this.
Posted by: Peter | May 13, 2006 at 04:47 AM