Stuff You'll Love
Woman with Flower
by Naomi Long Madgett
I wouldn’t coax the plant if I were you.
Such watchful nurturing may do it harm
Let the soil rest from so much digging
And wait until it’s dry before you water it.
The leaf’s inclined to find its own direction;
Give it a chance to seek the sunlight
for itself.
Much growth is stunted by too careful
prodding,
Too eager tenderness.
The things we love we have to learn to
leave alone.