the story of a watermelon

an epic story really, one of determination, persistence and strength.

it all began in march, maybe even earlier.

the garden needed to be turned over and prepared for the summer harvest.

we worked hard, we dug up by hand and flipped over the land.

we feed the earth with mushroom manure.

i designed, prepared and plotted the look and feel of the garden.

we bought, nurtured and grew from seed.

we thought outside the box, we thought what about a watermelon.

a good idea.

we found, we planted, we watched.

it rained,

and rained,

and rained.

the watermelon did not do so well

she had lost most of what was life giving, but still there was hope.

finally the sun came out.

her small green leaves reached and reached, longing to be filled.

and then it came

the small one came,

the small one in a diaper came to see the watermelon plant.

there were no leaves left when the small one left.

but still we watered it.

not sure why.

and to our surprise a tiny green leaf emerged from the stick we called a watermelon.

we nurtured

sang to

praised and rejoiced in our plant.

and then she came again

this time yanking the plant from the earth

throwing it in with the weeds.

but she is not a weed.

carefully, oh so carefully, i replanted the watermelon.

she does not look so good.

still i water, by hand.