In Humanity's Garden

(dedicated to the memories of my grandmother Dorothy Genevive Nelson and my grandfather George Sigfred Nelson)

In humanity's garden,
despite the gmo weeds,
there are some chestnuts of charity,
some radishes of rationality,
and some apricots of harmony.

in humanity's garden,
despite the mercenary weeds,
there are some figs of friendship,
some potatoes of moral purity,
and apples of sound health

in humanity's garden,
there are learned bean-stalks,
some pumpkins of poetry,
and also star-gazing sunflowers

In humanity's garden,
there are artichokes of rhetoric,
blue squash of frugality,
greens of creativity,
and youthful sprouts of enthusiastic élan

in humanity's garden,
despite the greedy weeds,
there are ripe tomatoes of good-will,
some strawberries of music,
and many multi-colored roses of renaissance