In the garden,
pruning is essential
to foster healthy growth.
Pruning is the
deliberate
meticulous
extraction of dead matter.
Yet,
sometimes
pruning is dangerous.
When those holding the shears
cut indiscriminately,
without understanding
the delicate balance
between growth
and root system.
Cutting too much
can reduce
photosynthetic capacity —
starving the plant,
stressing the whole.
Today’s gardeners
are cutting with abandon.
the question remains:
will the plant survive?
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The juxtaposition of photo and poem is so powerful here. Your poem reminds me how much we need metaphor to think deeply, reflect, question, understand.
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well said and love the photo with the poem! Just wish those doing the cutting would listen and understand the true nature of pruning. Pruning is to support and develop new growth it is not about destruction. Thanks for writing.
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I first read your post without really looking at the photo and was feeling your pruning from a gardening angle only! Then, I noticed and your word will live with me for a long while. Yes, when pruning gets out of hand, much of the young growth and older branches will not survive. This analogy deserves a spot in the NYTimes
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Wow!!! What a powerful analogy. This begs to be published and distributed far and wide. I just read Amy’s Fork post and now your Pruning post. You are a powerful duo!
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You are such a gifted writer. I learn so much from your craftiness and word selection, “The delicate balance/between growth/and root system”–chef’s kiss to this masterpiece!
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