My Little Yard

By Andrea Ayvazian

my little yard
63 feet by 39 feet
is treeless
mowed grass, green
brown patches
some weeds
no flowers five shrubs
cedar fence one vine

my little deck
more like a stoop
11 inches from the ground
rough wood, no railing

the view beyond my fence
a basketball court, one house
with garage
three large trees, one hedgerow

tell me then why
on my deck
in my green plastic chair
am I transported over the treetops to places my mind
wanders with bliss
tell me, why
in my little spot
do I dream such big dreams
and see visions
of the divine

Andrea Ayvazian is Dean of Religious Life at Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachusetts.

©2002 Fellowship of Reconciliation