struck by craving
for homemade pesto
i stripped you of every leaf
in a murderous rampage
certain this would be
the end of you
for weeks now
the days had been shrinking
what little light gracing us
milkily tenuous
the air had sharpened
like an invisible knife
lopping off my green thumb
your leaves yellowing
parched roots buried
in a shallow grave
your denuding was
an act of mercy
a death mourned
well in advance
so imagine my surprise
when a crown of new leaves
unfurled overnight
nascent yet resolute
here you are
defying nature
with your very being