A Little Gardening

The Madman loved gardens,
whether large with sculpted hedges and trees,
full of flowers and ponds, alive with flashing

fishes and birds, or

small and tidy with a few roses, some jasmine
and a few cattails where it met a wetland.

This described the Madman's own garden,
a miniature paradise at the back of his modest
home. It had a wall on three sides, the fourth being the
marshy pond where dwelt many birds who feasted

on the mosquitoes, fish; big lazy carp, and frogs.

Today, as the dervish pruned his roses,

Photo by Mary Fullerton

his mind harked back to the previous night, and he

was filled with peace. The kitten played near
the rushes."Thank you Oh God, for this small
taste of The Garden of Paradise." he sang as he
worked, snipping and carefully keeping the hips
of the faded roses for his tea.

He noticed the kitten studying something with
all the feline intensity She could muster.
Suddenly a loud croak boomed out of the
rushes near where the kitten stood. She reared
up on Her hind legs giving a loud 'rowr', then bounded about in sheer excitement. there was
another croak followed by a 'rowr'


The Madman walked over to see the kitten nose to nose
with a very large frog. There seemed no antagonism,
just a communication that was
between frog, kitten and God.

The Madman smiled and returned to his roses.
The croaking and mewing continued for a while, ending
in a splash as the frog returned to the marsh. The
kitten then found a sunny place and lay down for a nap.

The day crept into the afternoon, and the
dervish prayed, rested, and ate some cheese and bread.

There was a knocking on the Garden gate, followed
by a voice.
"Dervish! Hey dervish are you in there? Where have you
been this morning? I need to ask you something."
"I have been dead and walking in the Garden today!" the
dervish answered.
'What!?" the other man shouted "Dead?! If you were dead
how could you be talking to me over this wall?"
'Perhaps you too are dead."
"What the hell are you saying? I am alive! I just left
the tea shoppe and everyone there saw me!"
"Perhaps they too are dead." the dervish said.

"You are crazier than a rat in a jar! I don't know why
I bother to ask you anything. I know the answer already,
any way!"

"Thanks be to God! Thanks be to God!" the dervish shouted.
"What now, you crazy fool?"
"You have risen from the dead!"

It was quiet from the other side of the gate.

The Madman returned to his spot as
the kitten ambled over and sat down.

"Ah, little one, are the roses not sweet?"

TF (C)30Aug2010