Learning to Garden

don't be fooled

by old school

these roses

are not roses

they're tulips

you're free to ignore

the thorns the blood

on your fingers

free to brag

about the harvest

leave june's empty

vase empty

don't be fooled

by appearances

these roses

are not roses

they're azaleas

thriving in shade

you're free to brag

about your surfeit of flowers

free to gloss over

that same empty vase

don't be fooled

don't give in

summer's in full swing and

imagining is easier than digging

keeps you cool and feeling a lot better

so confident you could

cut a video about it

crucify on social media

any tree-hugger who objects

to what you post

give your site a boost

by boasting about

all you know about growing

maybe get immortalized

by an a i citation or

a gigabyte of fame

so don't be fooled

just keep walking

fast past city parks

and stay as best your able

far very far from the dirt

and the toil of the soil