We Need the Soil

because the roots are a gorgeous
catastrophe of gargling raindrops

those empty diamond shaped faces
containing the dreams of elderberries

because she fills earth’s basket with the black 
resinous warmth of grandmother’s hands

breaking the ruby white stalks
of rhubarb and celery, reenacting

each contagious morning
the cherished dew of midnight’s tears

as the wild and mischievous
rhythms of eternity nears

George Cassidy Payne is a poet from Rochester, NY. His work has been included in such publications as the Hazmat ReviewMoria Poetry JournalChronogram JournalAmpersand Literary ReviewThe Angle at St. John Fisher College, and 3:16 Journal. George’s blogs, essays and letters have appeared in USA TodayThe Wall Street JournalThe AtlanticHavana TimesSouth China Morning PostThe Buffalo News, and more. 

See all his poems on Tea House here.

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