by Gwen Bindas
from her book, Sometimes in Summer (Finishing Line Press; 2012)

In Taoism, there are four big empties:
The stomach, the kitchen,
The room, and the mind.

On my fire escape landing,
There is another kind of empty,
A plastic bucket the color of adobe.

*

The potting soil bag includes a warning:
Always use garden gloves
When handling this product,
As its miracle grow ingredients
May be toxic.

Such is the alchemy of soil and seeds.

*

Months later, tall stalks lean into the light.
Slender companions, they yield
Under the dark weight of summer rain.

*

Question:
Which empty makes sunflowers open
High above a city parking lot?

Answer:
The many empties that stir in a bucket of mud,
Alive in a field of sky.

Gwen Bindas is a teacher at CELOP.  Sometimes in Summer is her third published book of poetry.