A Love Letter to the Garden

There’s a secret garden

Nestled in the heart of Little Italy

Between Prince and Spring

I can’t tell you what street

Or it wouldn’t be a secret

But it’s easy to guess

The first time I found it, I fell in love

With the trees

The smokebush

The roses that touch the sky

The vines that crawl to heaven

The anemones that smile at you

The big, bright dahlias that always seem to come back

I fell in love with the feeling

Of being at home

Amongst the hydrangeas, I found myself

Hidden between the strawberries and mint

I met myself there many times

Different versions of me

And grew up

Year by year

In the same plot of the garden

Running my hands through the grass

Feeling the earth between my fingers

Caring for her roots

Cleaning up her weeds

Loving the bits of her that continue to surprise me

The special thing about Elizabeth is that she’s the same but ever-changing

A piece of land that is filled with magic and peace

Healing powers and the power to gather

Bring people together

Hold them when they need it most

I fell in love in her arms

I mourned with her too

I found myself turning to her in every emotion

Happiness and sadness

Grief and heartbreak

She met my family

She said hello to my friends

She brought me community

I will forever be indebted to her

I have a special plot

An area that is my favorite place

But I can’t tell you where it is

Or it wouldn’t be a secret