David Sutton

Abundant sun, ample waterSpecial food of time-release pelletsCombo-spray for aphids and fungusGentle words of encouragementA light kneading of the soil with trusty spadeAnd yet my Alba MaximaCramoisi Superieur andComte de ChambordProduce only the scrawniest of budsThe little old ladies at the First Baptist ChurchOoh-ahh at a basket of robust blossomsFrom the garden of John FrenchA

“I have a stalker,”my student tells me.He put beer bottlesunder her tires. Hetelephones her at oddhours. While she wasin class, he brokeinto her apartment anddid “weird things.” Thepolice told her theyhave some good leads.They’re pretty sure thisguy lives in Florida.Just to be safe,a patrol car cruisesby her apartment severaltimes a day. Afterchatting for a bitlonger,