To ask a good question is to dig deep with a shovel. Shoveling,
Until you arrive at the sight of something new, old, or unseen.
When I used a shovel at the beach, I thought I would find the
Other side of the world, only to discover that some discoveries
Are not unearthed so easily. Turns out, Earth’s sides are endless;
There is no “other” side. And when I used a shovel to make space
For vegetable seeds, I waited to see them grow right before
My very eyes, only to accept that my sharp impatience is
Just a sign of my desire for constant improvement. Turns out,
Growth depends on trust. Come back later. You see, I want to
Know all of life, to see all of life happen; so, what if life ends
And there is knowledge I didn’t gain, or growth that was not
Blessed upon me? What if? Well, if so, please shovel me deeper.
You can let the rain pour from the other side. I will improve.
Originally published on the River Hook’s Sheep Meadow Poetry Walk (Hester Haring Cason Preserve, Upper Nyack, New York) | On display summer 2026