She brought it all inside in a large basket

The first harvest was all she hoped for

Taking each eggplant and pepper up

And cleaning the flesh between her soft hands

 

The water scattered earth around the sink

And ran down in a little stream from her elbow

As she popped a sweet, yellow cherry tomato 

into her mouth and daydreamed of a dinner party

 

She would decorate the dining room

With strings of lights draped from curved branches

And tealights and wildflowers on the table  

Not knowing who would come to fill the space