Cropped   

       
 
He doesn't care for flowers or for fruit,
so don't implore him not to clip or prune
the fig trees and camellias. His pursuit
of geometric form makes him immune
 
to luscious tastes and beauties others crave.
He doesn't care for flowers or for fruit,
so once the buds appear, don't try to save
them from his trimmer. All your pleas are moot.
 
He holds a tidy yard in high repute,
a verdant symbol of his mastery.
He doesn't care for flowers or for fruit,
but takes some pleasure in your misery
 
as he destroys what you had hoped to see.
His need to have control is absolute,
and you can't argue with machinery.
He doesn't care for flowers or for fruit.

Susan McLean

If you have any thoughts about this poem,  Susan McLean would be pleased to hear them