Read by Matilda Longbottom

On the first day we gardened, my true love said to me, “I’ve planted an evergreen tree.”

On the second day we gardened, my true love said tome, “I think I overwatered, but I’ve planted an evergreen tree.”

On the third day we gardened, my true love said to me, “Oh, oh, it’s raining. I think I overwatered, but I’ve planted an evergreen tree.”

On the fourth day we gardened, my true love said to me, “Where did that goat come from? Oh, oh, it’s raining. I think I overwatered, but I’ve planted an evergreen tree.”

On the fifth day we gardened, my true love said to me, “I hope it lives! Where did that goat come from? Oh, oh, it’s raining. I think I overwatered, but I’ve planted an evergreen tree.”

On the sixth day we gardened, my true love said to me, “I think the trunk is healing. I hope it lives! Where did that goat come from? Oh, oh, it’s raining. I think I overwatered, but I’ve planted an evergreen tree.”

On the seventh day we gardened, my true love said to me, “Let’s plant bulbs beneath it, I think the trunk is healing. I hope it lives! Where did that goat come from? Oh, oh, it’s raining. I think I overwatered, but I’ve planted an evergreen tree.”

On the eighth day we gardened, my true love said to me, “Will you mulch around it? Let’s plant bulbs beneath it, I think the trunk is healing. I hope it lives! Where did that goat come from? Oh, oh, it’s raining. I think I overwatered, but I’ve planted an evergreen tree.”

On the ninth day we gardened, my true love said to me, “Do you think it’s growing? Will you mulch around it? Let’s plant bulbs beneath it, I think the trunk is healing. I hope it lives! Where did that goat come from? Oh, oh, it’s raining. I think I overwatered, but I’ve planted an evergreen tree.”

On the tenth day we gardened, my true love said to me, “What is that dog doing? Do you think it’s growing? Will you mulch around it? Let’s plant bulbs beneath it, I think the trunk is healing. I hope it lives! Where did that goat come from? Oh, oh, it’s raining. I think I overwatered, but I’ve planted an evergreen tree.”

On the eleventh day we gardened, my true love said to me, “He’s fertilized the roots, dear. What is that dog doing? Do you think it’s growing? Will you mulch around it? Let’s plant bulbs beneath it, I think the trunk is healing. I hope it lives! Where did that goat come from? Oh, oh, it’s raining. I think I overwatered, but I’ve planted an evergreen tree.”

On the twelfth day we gardened, my true love said to me, “Isn’t this relaxing? He’s fertilized the roots, dear. What is that dog doing? Do you think it’s growing? Will you mulch around it? Let’s plant bulbs beneath it, I think the trunk is healing. I hope it lives! Where did that goat come from? Oh, oh, it’s raining. I think I overwatered, but I’ve planted an evergreen tree.” ❖

This article was published originally in 2005, in GreenPrints Issue #64.