Is Greener always Better?

His grass is always greener
It’s like he paints it.
He surely has a draughtsman to draw
those lines on his lawn.
He must be out there early mornings
with his tape measure and spirit level.
His flowers colour co-ordinated,
like soldiers on parade,
not forgetting
those things for keeping the cats at bay.
And the timed sprinklers.
He gives me a nod when we pass,
never a smile.
I sit in my deckchair,
in the sun
with my glass of red
while he mows and mows.
I see his pacing shadow through the hedge.
I peruse the wild
abandon before me.
Some would say the grass needs a cut
but the dandelions look charming.
Here some bluebells,
there something I know not what, but pretty.
The bees seem to prefer my garden,
I think with a smile.
And my life, full of dodgy weeds, chaotic.
But perhaps more interesting than his perceived perfection.

Malcolm Henshall

One of the Headingley Open Gardens collection. Click to see the full list

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