Plant a Garden

If your purse no longer bulges
   and you've lost your golden treasure,
If at times you think you're lonely
   and have hungry grown for pleasure,
Don't sit by your hearth and grumble,
   don't let mind and spirit harden.
If it's thrills of joy you wish for
   get to work and plant a garden!


If it's drama that you sigh for,
   plant a garden and you'll get it
You will know the thrill of battle
   fighting foes that will beset it
If you long for entertainment and
   for pageantry most glowing,
Plant a garden and this summer spend
   your time with green things growing.

If it's comradeship you sight for,
    learn the fellowship of daisies.
You will come to know your neighbor
    by the blossoms that he raises;
If you'd get away from boredom
    and find new delights to look for,
Learn the joy of budding pansies
    which you've kept a special nook for.

If you ever think of dying
    and you fear to wake tomorrow
Plant a garden! It will cure you
   of your melancholy sorrow;
Once you've learned to know peonies,
    petunias, and roses,
You will find every morning
    some new happiness discloses.