Warm Soil

Slow, safe, warm start relationship

A seed dropped mid-storm and landed in warm soil

Black and copper earth cushioned its fall and sucked it deep

A perfume of basil, rosemary, mint, verbena, wormwood, juniper

A cloud of evergreen and balsam

Its final shape a mystery

Warm soil held the seed

Against wind

Against storms

Against the overzealous sun

Against hooves and beaks

Just deep enough

But the seed could still know the light

A great light that lit every storm cloud 

And every noon

A light that was warm

A light that never burned

A light that never flickered

Predictable

Reliable

And true

The seed broke the surface and hugge the warm soil

Slowly ventured into the light

Its roots crawled through warm dew and the same dark notes of evergreen and herbs

Always the soil was warm and soft

Always the seed was nurtured

Green poked against the soil and pushed on its roots into the sun

Safe, warm, it ventured higher

Nurtured and warm

Soft and so sweet

Slowly, so slowly

The seedling ever grew

never knowing its final form

but knowing it was safe here

in warm soil