Verily, Vinca

Verily, Vinca

Late spring, early evening. The sun
rays slanted, drawing his shadow out --
long-legged giant, but then, he is.
We lazily discuss work, the yard,
the front garden. A mass of green
choking out the flowers,
the gone-by daffodils, and tulips.

Vinca vine is an annual, added to
geranium pots for pops of green.
It does not come back: every year
one buys more to add to windowbox glory.
Except, apparently,
our vinca vine doesn't know that:
It thinks it is a perennial. It comes
back with a vengeance.

Yearly he does battle,
yanking it out by the roots,
following tap roots for yards.
Digging up the soil,
replanting the bulbs and
the yearly perennial flowers
only to have the vinca
emerge victorious.