I Counted The Quarts

If you notice, nourish.

I COUNTED THE QUARTS

A willow, peony or hibiscus

I’m ashamed to say

I don’t know

(Let’s be patient,

Both of us,

I’m just learning my birds)

But my wife

Moved a plant from

Our back garden

To the southwest-facing

Solar blast

Of our front yard

And

meteorologically,

Minnesota’s vast,

Dappled,

Azure skies

Are currently more content

To tease

Than to nourish.

I’ve read some good poetry tonight

And I had a lovely time

At a neighborhood bar

With a friend and his wife.

I’ve taken some gin

But that shrub

Gave me a look

That asked me to

At least

Try

And I thought

Of those monks in Soichi

Who race along the planks of the temple hallways

Devoted to maintaining

The life

Of those floors

With a daily scrub and shine.

So I ask myself

What am I really doing

If I see that

Willow

Or peony

Or hibiscus and… ?

I…

So…

I went in and out of air conditioning

Ten times,

Filling

A quart mason jar

With cold tap water each time.

I made sure not to rush;

Not to just

“Do the right thing”

And get it over with

(Check the karmic boxes)

I felt…

I felt

I just wanted those leaves

To feel something lovely.

I wanted that plant to feel care

Despite the

Sun

(A June sun

That’s a hard,

Crushing hug to me)

Each time I poured a quart

I thought of someone

Who loved me

Because they had to -

Because

It was a job

On top of

Mixed in with

Complicating

Taking away from

A new added detail

To all

Of their

Other jobs.

I counted the quarts

I poured onto that plant

As the least I could do

For them

For all of us.

I hope the stalks

and the leaves

Felt valued

And, just as much,

The roots

And all of their South Minneapolis

Soil.

I thought of all these things

While I nourished

A dying plant

With ten quarts

Of water;

Myself nourished

By folks

Who

Hedged their bets

On me.

However better it made them feel

To be there for me,

That way got me here.

Thanks to them or not,

While I watered,

I said with each quart jar,

“I’m sorry.

I’m sorry I didn’t see.

I hope this helps.

I will pay better attention.

I’ll mind the sun.

I will mind the sun

As long

As we both

Can stand it.”

JD Fratzke

9 June 2026

Minneapolis, MN