Sunday, September 14, 2008

And Now For Something A Little Different

The Summer Of My Bean Plant
by Edward S. Gault

When
I was
a little boy,

our
teacher gave
us bean seeds

To
plant in
the small milk

cartons
we had
just used during

snack.
We put
soil in each

carton,
then buried
the seeds a

half
inch under
the surface. We

put
them all
in the window,

So
they could
catch the sun's

rays,
and grow.
We checked on

them
each day,
I can remember

seeing
the first
little leaf peaking

through
the dirt
in my carton.

It
seemed to
take forever-but

by
the last
day of school,

We
had tall
bean plants that

we
could take
home for the

summer.
I put
mine in the

window
of my
room facing the

backyard
where I
spent all my

time
when I
was not in

camp.
When I
came home,

I
found it
had wilted some

because
I was
not there to

water
it. I
took it out

to
the yard
and re-planted it.

I
could still
see it growing

there
from my
window. Its leaves

would
move with
the breeze, like

It
was waving-
saying thank you.

Copyright 2008

One Single Impression: seeds
More about Hay (na) ku here

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

..how the seeds grow~in the mind of a little boy..many thanks for sharing a beautiful process..

Gemma Wiseman said...

I hope we always keep that childish wonder in nurturing growth! Lovely poem!

Julie said...

Such a flowing thought process. I really like the structure and the simplicity of language.

Lenore said...

lovely, a nice slice of being a child.

anthonynorth said...

The experience of many a little boy throughout the world, I think.

SandyCarlson said...

I know that experience, too. What a heartwarming story. It reminds me that we can do so much to nurture life in this world just by being there for it.

me ann my camera said...

When first being introduced to the magic of seeds revealing their amazing capabilities; the world, and your role in it, can be an awesome place. I remember. Nice.

ann at Gaullimaufry Gleanings

Anonymous said...

Edward, I still love to watch this process at 57. Your poem brought back nice memories.

sgreerpitt said...

a lovely poem of deceptive simplicity. It reminds me of my brothers grade school experiment in growing bean seedlings -- one was watered, the other he put milk on with predictable results.

barbs.haiku said...

I remember this school project as well, Edward! I love the last stanza - waving Thank You!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful little story. I love that waving goodbye part.

Raven said...

I love the innocence and the child's voice you carry through in this poem - and the last line - waving to say thank you - is just wonderful.

Anonymous said...

I had forgotten the joy of seeing the bean seed sprout until I read your poem. Isn't it amazing what we learned as children.

spacedlaw said...

Cute! I can imagine your plant looking out from the window sill, wanting to be out and play.

EG CameraGirl said...

What a wonderful memory. Thank you for sharing it so my own memory of a bean plant surfaced.

Annie Jeffries said...

Such a tender memory. Made me feel just plain old good inside.

Tumblewords: said...

A great story - nicely formed and well shown!

Quiet Paths said...

You should publish this for children; it's wonderful. This 40's kid loves it.

Patois42 said...

Lovely. I wrote a brief haiku as the one who received said bean plants from her children in their younger years. Mine was nowhere near as lovely nor as positive. I much prefer yours.

DeLi said...

an inspiring story