seed

               If a tree falls in a forest

               and there is nobody there to witness it

               does it even make a sound

when jack’s mum got sick

winter grew long

the cupboard

slowly emptied

hunger gnawed at the edges

               of his insides

a growing twelve year old boy

none of the neighbours

came round

maybe they didn’t know

and maybe jack did not know how to ask

jack dreamt of opening doors

to friendly tuna casseroles

and helpful hot pies 

               cooled to eating-point

on chilly windowsills

or a meal of bread

               even a four day old loaf

               if a tree falls in the forest

               and nobody hears it

               did it even fall

jack’s mum’s cough

was getting worse

               every day now

so even though the cow was part of the family

jack pulled on his boots

and took the cow

               if a tree falls

               even a mighty eucalypt

               and is unseen or heard

               does it make a sound

the road was long and windy

cow’s large brown eyes

kept staring at jack

               like they knew

jack even stopped

                              once

in the middle of the road

threw his arms

around her brown-white jersey softness

and said we love you cow

i’m sorry

i’m sorry

the marketplace was bustling-busy

stalls of oranges apples jackets

and shoes

                              chicken eggs

                              fresh chicken eggs

called a girl standing four feet tall

one by one

people looked cow over

felt her udders

checked her teeth

jack said

                              she may be old

                              but she is kind

                              and faithful

customers moved along

looked away

sniffed

                                             what happens when a tree falls

                                             and nobody hears

on the long walk home

cow trailing slowly behind him

jack blinked away tears

and as if out of nowhere

               a woman appeared

her eyes were kind

her back was stooped

and in her hand

               she held a seed

                              i will take your cow

               she said

                              and give you this magic bean

               now

jack was not a stupid boy

but something came over him

something came over him

and in that tiny seed

he saw a flash

of what life might be

saw baby plant

emerging from seed hull

               leaves unfurling soft as silk

a germination of emerald green

all jack could think of

               in that exact moment

was the word he’d learnt at school

in science class last week

               photosynthesis

               photosynthesis

so yes

something came over him

clutching hands around his heart

like rope-vines strangling

we all know the feeling

like something is either birthing

      or dying

and it’s impossible to tell which

a test is put in front of you

perhaps a paper one

        crisp white space

beckoning for right answers

maybe you’re standing at the edge of a mighty ocean

surfboard under arm

as giant waves roll in

perhaps your teammates finally passed the ball

and the grass is clear

         all the way to the goal

will you rise to it

will you rise to it

is this uncertain stumble

or is it magic unfurling

well jack

jack heard himself saying

               yes

hand closed around the seed

that would become his destiny

he gently let go of cow’s lead

cow looked at jack

as if to say

               there is a pile of my manure

                              back home

               behind that rusty old shed

               you know what to do with it jack

                you know what to do

               and when you’re done

               i’m counting on you

               go and seed

               go on and seed

               but don’t forget

                              please jack

               come and find me when you’re done

               whatever happens

               buy me back again