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