The One Stark Truth

“No matter how many plans you make or how much in control you are, life is always winging it.” 

― Carroll Bryant

The days are finally cooler so I find myself spending more time in the garden. There is a lot to do in fall here in my desert oasis. It’s a time to prune the roses, trim bushes and cleaning up from the monsoons. With sadness, I remove what’s left of once vibrant plants that did not survive the baking heat of summer.

This morning as I am trimming the rampant herbs, I come across the remains of a love bird. I’m not sure how he died, it could have been in a myriad of ways. A stray cat that frequents the garden may have gotten lucky, only to realize this is not your typical tasty bird. A rodent may have found its way in and took its life. Or, as we humans do every day, it may have died from old age.

If ever there is one stark truth evident in the garden, it is this- the endless cycle of life and death. Come spring when I plant flowers and vegetables, life is blooming all around me. In summer, there is the slow deterioration and plants die in the burning sun. After over twenty years of gardening in the desert, I know there is no amount of water that will ease its intensity.

October is a month of contemplation and introspection for me. I turned another year older on the first and I know, like the lovebird, my time grows shorter with each passing day. I cherish every breath of life and each coming of another season, grateful I am still here.


autumn renewal
life and death, a garden’s truth
in every veined leaf

©2021 Linda Lee Lyberg

Author’s Note: Posting this from last October. A bit tired today as I did some cleaning, and it’s going to take some time to heal and regain my strength from the radiation treatments. I long to spend more time on the garden but we are still experiencing over a 100 degree days. No pruning the roses until it drops below.

Linda Lee Lyberg is a wife, mother, artist, published poet and author. She resides in Mesa, AZ with her husband Pete (aka The Big Viking) of 24 years, and her dog, Ricky Bobby. Linda writes various forms of poetry, as well as short stories. You can read more of her works at: charmedchaos.com
and purchase anthologies containing her work here: Amazon Author Page