Sower
Seed sprouts in varied conditions, but its viability is unpredictable. Sow it first to know its ultimate quality. “Sower” is my testament to seed’s transcendent whimsy, beauty, and power.
By Lane Cook
Sower
Lane Cook
Spring strewn
like a baby rattle
exploded
across the clay.
Please sprout
the garden waits.
Summer shorn,
sweet corn.
Drought is high
Sweaty thighs
Autumnal sky
heat wanes
birds dive and fly.
Birds-
Gotta have enough for the birds
Snow on straw
for crone and bird and me.
Bring the rattles.
Shake them around, across the clay.
A forever pattern of holding place.
“Sower” ©2026. Lane Cook and The Renaissance Garden Guy
Publisher’s note: Featured image courtesy of the author.
Lane Cook lives on the Western Slope of Colorado. She has a Culinary degree and is a Master Gardener, writer, and poet. She is the founder of the book club Read Between the Vines, which has been meeting regularly for twelve years running. Lane spends her time gardening, reading about gardening, writing, and battling weeds. She also enjoys hanging out with her husband, daughter, grandkids, and her faithful dog Sonny. Follow Lane on X (Twitter) at https://x.com/PaliGranny.
The Renaissance Garden Guy is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, The Renaissance Garden Guy earns from qualifying purchases.
Additionally, The Renaissance Garden Guy is a participant in the Bluehost, SeedsNow, and Hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting) affiliate programs. The Renaissance Garden Guy earns a fee/commission each time a visitor clicks on an ad or banner in this site from one of these companies and makes a subsequent qualifying purchase.
Please click here to view The Renaissance Garden Guy Disclosure page.
Your poem expresses the sincerest hopes of every true farmer and gardener I know, and it expresses them beautifully. Lovely work.
Kevin, it does take an amount of hope to farm and garden. And resilience. Thank you for your kind comments. Garden on.
Kevin, do you farm/garden? I love gardening.
My parents used to grow fruit and vegetables, plus ornamental plants, on a 12-acre plot. I currently grow only ornamental perennials in my garden, but I also grow annuals in pots. Your wonderful poem brought back many memories.
I am glad you had positive memories sparked by my poem. As a child, I visited my great-grandmother and her garden. She lived in a residential neighborhood, but, you would never know it once you stepped out the back door. There were plants, trees, and shrubs of all sorts and sizes. I think that exposure had a great impact on how I garden now. She did have potted plants too. She used old shoes to plant in. Very eclectic.
Lovely poetry!
Waz, I am so excited you like it. Thank you.
Very thought-provoking poem. Much appreciated.
Thank you, Rick. Glad you liked it.
Such a lovely walk through the seasons!
Thank you, Lisa! So very kind of you. 💚