Goodwill

My garden runs wild.
I made it that way so
myriad creatures can romp.

I often watch out
for the tiniest things,
winged and brilliant and there.

I see beauty in compound eyes, opaline wings.
There are colours whose names I can’t guess.
There is strength there and dignity, honesty, art.
There is genius in all this ado.

I step lightly, with care, with respect for their works.
There is garden enough for us all.

Now, if I could just
look at most humans so,
be seen that way, too —
well, what a thought.

Jeannie Marschall is a teacher from the green centre of Germany who also writes stories, time permitting. She enjoys long walks with her dog (and cat, occasionally), foraging, and tending her semi-sentient vegetable garden while inventing colourful tales with her partner, or huddling around the fire in their witches’ hut for the same purpose. Jeannie mostly writes SciFi and all kinds of Fantasy stories as well as the odd poem. She has a few short pieces lined up for publication this year, for example with Black Spot Books, The Banshee Journal, and QueerWelten magazine. Longer works are in the pipeline. Find her on Twitter: @JunkerMarschall