Between the Fence and the Fern

Between the fence and fern

In the back of the yard

In the cool of the dirt

On the soft moss and sod

In a universe of silt

In a narrow never-glade

In the moist and darkened

congruence

of oxygen and shade

---

A never-ending cycle

of reproductive violence

Natural machinations

Of Darwinian compliance

---

Larvae, Beetles, Earthworms

Black and Orange Ants

Decomposing nutrients

A lifeblood for the plants

---

A constantly raging battle

Steadfastly unforgiving

A cyclic constitution

where the dead support the living

---

And of this earthly netherworld

all that we discern

are the gently blowing leaves

On the softly dancing fern