Sweet Woodruff

beside the front pine
the ground slopes down

we have planted woodruff
and lily there

where the water runs
the tree roots show
and thick the weeds grow
along the low part of the bank
where the sun slips in

the ground smells of needles
pine and the garnish of may wine
this earth could bite you
it might taste of gin

in the cool dusk mosquito tusks
pierce your skin by din of the neighbor's movie:
someone is dying but has a few more words to speak
incomprehensible coming through their open window

soil clumps crumble from milkweed roots
dusk crumbles into night around the walking of dogs
doppler of cars and the buzz of coasting bikes
stars incomprehensible open their windows

the pungence of our plans, ground cover in the spiny shade
from here pines touch the roof of night
the slope of time runs down from our feet

we believe in this
next spring will smile sweet in woodruff bloom.