Crabgrass Poem by Fred Odom

I've been invaded by crabgrass.
It was totally unexpected and by reputation,
I fear the worst.

I grew up with a yard never touched by this dread,
My yard always lushly verdant.
Blistering summers…. torrential springs…subzero winters for months, but
Every summer fresh grass I dream of running through barefooted,
Laying out gazing at the clouds,
The smell of freshly cut grass still present
And Its plush carpet feel,
Almost too thick to get my fingers through
To the moist earth below.

I've been invaded by crabgrass.
It was totally unexpected and by reputation,
I fear the worst.

I loved that yard and took great care in its development—
Fertilizer at the right times in just the right amounts,
Watering gently, deeply—
Meticulous manicuring, cut and shaped to the right length…
I can't believe this is happening.

Its presence crept in, almost imperceptibly at first….
A concern, but one I thought quite manageable.
After all, I had the right tools, the right chemicals and the drive to see it driven away.
My family and friends thought I'd be immediately victorious.
My gardener was guardedly optimistic,
But covert concern spilled out in his tone,
Despite his encouragement.

I've been invaded by crabgrass.
It was totally unexpected and by reputation,
I fear the worst.

It seemed to gain a toehold.
I fertilized my healthy grass to help ward off the intruder.
It grew even faster.
I acquired new and expensive tools to eradicate its presence.
They worked quite well for a while; I breathed a sigh of relief.
It was premature. The enemy cropped up in several new places.

I've been invaded by crabgrass.
It was totally unexpected and by reputation,
I fear the worst.

Its eradication became an obsession.
I worried into the nights, many nights.
It affected my sleep and appetite as I planned drastic measures…
Toxic chemicals, radical barriers deep into the ground
To stop its spread.
Fire was given appreciable thought. - I had to sacrifice the good
To destroy the enemy.

My joy in my lawn faded
But not my grim determination to fight.
My energy fixated on its removal. Then my energy faded, too.
My family and friends counseled me;
Spoke kind words of consolation.
In the face of losing the battle my hope faded, as well.
I reframed the issue, to no avail.
I sought spiritual counsel and sought a larger meaning to the struggle,
After all, everyone gets crabgrass sooner or later.
And
It was my time now.

I've been invaded by crabgrass.
It was totally unexpected and by reputation,
I fear the worst.

I think now of relocating.
A rocky terrain would suit.
Perhaps beach life wouldn't be so bad.
I'll cut my losses and have my memories to suffice.
But there are those who perceive this as capitulation.

I want the comfort of my life back again.
And this is no way to live.
In the end, don't eulogize me by giving honor to "fighting the good fight."
Instead, remember me in days gone by
When reaching out and grabbing hold of the grass I loved
Gave greatest pleasure in the simple oneness with the earth in nature's unspoiled lap.