Ivy

Dark leaved ivy
Where planted it has grown
Bound to You

The first shoots fastened with pink
Tied like a baby to a mother’s breast
Fastened, trained, teased, tormented to follow
Your will

Through the summer coaxed by sunshine
Quenched by rain
It grew too quickly, spread and covered, cloaked
Your direction

And you, the gardener tied me back again
With yellow plastic
The youngest, softest leaves held
To enjoy the last of summer sun
So we could play

Now in preparation
For harsh winter
Prune me ruthlessly

Let your sharpest knife slice away
Remove the youngest, frailest shoots
Remove the old
Remove the misplace growth, the rampant waste
I feel you cutting me, I scream
A song of death for the promise of a life to come

Leave me small but whole
Rooted firmly by your side
Tidy, quiet, neat and strong

When winter snows cover the ground my roots will run
Deeper into the rich soil finding sustenance
I wind them round yours in the dark brown earth
Hidden from sight but growing stronger
Drawing comfort from your presence though I cannot see

At the first sign of spring
I grow and bind myself, enslave myself to you
Stronger now, rooted and firm
My mind and spirit trained to grow as you taught
My body wrapping yours in rich embrace
Bound to you without the need for ties.