Rest

I have spent the day at the allotment, sorting out the pumpkins, picking beans and beetroots, feeding brassica, and netting winter lettuce and carrots. We dug up potatoes. We dug up old, unfruiting raspberry bushes, ready to replace them next year.

I came home, cleaned up the vegetables, cooked the beetroots, and washed the salad. Then I went into the garden to restore order after the recent winds and heavy rain. I supported the tall echinops and daisies. I tied in the jasmine and pruned back the roses.

When I stop, I lay down on the grass. My neighbours know that I've not collapsed as I often do it after a hard shift. I close my eyes and breathe, in and out. I open my eyes and look up too, but mostly I close my eyes and breathe. It gives my body time to relax, to realign after the contorted positions between plants, against fences. Time just to be still.