for Nicole Ringgold @YardFood, Twisp
The silversmith smiths
at her overworked bench,
an open secret behind garden shop walls.
Three pear and verbena
guard this magical space
where she perfects her demi-metal urges
as tarnished, burnished hands
weave wire and soldered sheet
into brightly riveting textured artistry;
botanic warp and weft
inspire her crafter’s eye
while soil outside beds down, buried in snow.
Sterling all, smiths and poets
de-compose soon enough:
yard food, yes—yet silver-tongued, immortal!