Irretrievable

I saw a leaf, or maybe three, wilting in the heat,
smiled wryly at the sun, never dreamt
what would come.

I saw a fruit, or maybe lots, turning brown,
thought I’d overdone the water, or not enough,
but I could salvage some.

I never saw the weed-surrounded stems, softening
in still, damp air, keeling under weight
they could no longer bear.

I realised far too late my loved and nurtured crop
was blighted. But,
                         but in its ousted shadow
forgotten chives find light.



I’ve now pulled up half the plants, have washed kilos of green tomatoes clean of spores (I hope), laid them out by windows to redden if they will and am scouring the internet for green tomato recipes that will keep.