Child, Like

a seed grows
pushes up frail and green
seeks the touch
of light,

flesh
dusky hands
roughed dry
like the seed
push aside the dirt
clear the way

a seed grows

flesh
cracked skin
bruised dark
like the fingers
pushed aside the hope
that cleared the way

a fruit picked
thrown aside soft and brown
seeks the damp
of earth,

its seed grows

by Wendy Perkins
© 2000