Linda Paulsen
Planting tulips is an act
of faith facing winter, a pact
with nature to make spring
again, to securely, simply cling
to the deep primeval fact
that seasons are short statements,
not ethereal essays meant
for debate by experts. Anyone
planting tulips
is beneath all that, and doesn’t
consider much more than the pleasant
scent of the damp earth that lingers
on wrinkled knees and kneading fingers
and the cups of color nature grants
planting tulips.