Garden Variety

When summer shined bright during my childhood days
My father sometime would visit his sister
There was a garden thick and green where I played
but it always seemed kind of sinister

No flowers were planted, there was nothing for show
All plants were to make something edible
She tended well, these seeds she had sown
And had a harvest that was quite commendable

Spread out on a table was her produce to see
The daikons and carrots and parsnips galore
There were cucumbers and also zucchinis
As well as turnips and corn ears by the score

My generous aunt bade take what we want
But my Dad would not let me near the table
He would go through the garden and start to hunt
any unpicked items available

I didn’t know why he spent all this time
when so many were there for the taking
that we could have grabbed then quickly dined.
Why was this crop here being forsaken?

Now that I am older I think I might know
For I realize now that there was missing
the onions and broccoli and tomatoes
I also saw her with a pickle she was kissing

This was her garden of Earthly delights
All on that table had been tested
The tubers and gourds- it wasn’t right
So much of the produce molested