Meadow Box from Fresh Territory by Dan Berggren

First, get a good box of cardboard.
Put in a plastic bag, just the right size.
Then find yourself a good meadow,
Follow your nose, use your ears and your eyes.
A pocket knife blade can measure
The depth of the dirt, and get a few roots.
Arrange them the way they wild,
Grasses and ferns, flowers and fruits.

*It’s summer, it’s summer.
Cicadas are sawing away in the trees.
It’s summer, it’s summer.
Hear the hum of praise come from the bees,
Smell the meadow on the sweet summer breeze.

Wild mountain thyme, black-eyed susans,
Be sure to have plenty of moss at the base.
Timothy, daisies, wild berries,
Indian paint brush, Queen Anne’s lace.
*
After the moss soaks up water,
You might think that the job has come to an end;
But the last step lets summer last longer:
Deliver the meadow box to a good friend.
*
©1998 Dan Berggren

• Adirondacks
• Folk
• environmental
• singer-songwriter
• traditional
• New York