My Gardening Pantoum

What We Have Sown

All those invasive plants
we didn’t think of as terrible,
just beautiful and strong,
seeded in the flower beds.

We didn’t think of it as terribly
pesky, the sweet rocket I started,
seeded in the flower beds
25 years ago. It’s everywhere now.

Pesky, the sweet rocket I started,
and the comfrey—such a benign name—
25 years ago. It’s everywhere now,
still reproducing, even the clumps I dig up.

Yes, the comfrey—such a benign name—
exceeding its bounds in the garden,
still reproduces, even the clumps I dig up
and toss across the road, to take root.

Exceeding its bounds in the garden,
forget-me-not dots the yard with blue,
tossing seeds across the road, to take root,
growing rings around the sweet rocket.

Forget-me-not dots the yard with blue:
my daughter’s gentle admonition
growing rings around the sweet rocket,
whispering, Don’t forget.

My daughter’s gentle admonition
not to forget my love of gardening
whispers, Don’t forget
But how will I be remembered?

I won’t forget my love of gardening,
so beautiful and strong,
but will I be remembered for
all those invasive plants?