Aspirational Gardening from War Footing by Andrea Mazzariello

Speaking of better days this garden has seen
The previous ownership, compulsively competent
It lulls us to sleep then explodes into green
My mode of address more impulsive than confident

I have these ideas how it can vibrate and breathe
The eye ought to travel how the body negotiates
The movement we built into intricate weaves
The mind comes to rest as the water free-associates

At first then eventual cut of a path
An irrigation masterpiece, half predetermined arteries
The rest is as easy as drawing a bath
Honoring the gravity, becoming what it wants to be

But as it stands it’s just overgrown
It goes the same way I’ve always known
Some visionary seeds go to ground
Then I forget where I set them down.

Speaking of better ways I might practice thinking
The concept exists in all the brands that I buy
They say that just sitting there inspires an unlinking
Between the machine and what’s in front of the eye

I have these ideas of more inspired ways to see
Or maybe that striving suppresses the untainted
Looking then running all the code that I need
My mind like a river, my eyes clear, my gaze painted

On to my face to subdue any following
What passes will pass, unconcerned with its measure
Like sediment sinking, like gunpowder hollowing
Out of a bullet, like unburied treasure

It’s in my mouth but I overblow
Nice to believe, harder to know
I spit every seed down to ground
But there’s no water in this town.

• Experimental
• Northfield