Dewey Decimal Card Catalogue Cabinet
Banking On Seeds
A-rest on shore of seed bank boxes,
We embark upon novel re-purposing.
Tiny, local, handwritten manila packets.
From springy plants to bountiful falls,
Circle closes in reciprocal deposits.
Low-key pamphlet pinned on cork,
Dinging bell for farmer’s PowerPoint
Of step-by-step in saving seeds.
Hippy bright in whys and wherefores,
A-rest on shore of seed bank boxes.
Ponytail jumping, not with book sense,
Spouting virtues, growing heirlooms;
Why to fear, flee Shelley-ian hybrids.
Library hums as we climb aboard;
We embark upon novel re-purposing.
Undecimaled Dewey drawers filled,
Sprouting veg-herb-flower language
From green-thumbed benefactors.
We dig among ordered abundance of
Tiny local handwritten manila packets.
Summer sun beats warm upon us.
We water burgeoning green splays
That puff with scented, blossomed hues.
Cosmos, zucchini, mint leather sage;
From springy plants to bountiful falls.
Harvest compounds to include seeds,
Processed until clean, cool, dry;
Overwintered to February’s calling.
Sealed in handwritten envelopes;
Circle closes in reciprocal deposits.
Our local library branch has had a seed bank for a few years now. It was started by my cousin, head librarian at our branch at the time, who arranged to have a farmer who was an expert in saving seeds come in and do a PowerPoint presentation for us.
Every year I pick up seeds, but until this year I have not made a deposit. I got the sulfur cosmos seeds from the library. The arnica and butterfly milkweed are from plants that grow in the yard. The arnica is from seeds nabbed from a garden up north, and the butterfly milkweed just started growing on its own. Update: after seeing a packet of butterfly milkweed in another poem I wrote about the seed bank, I realize that it didn’t “just start growing on its own.” I must have planted it at some point and it “took.” Apologies for any time I have said it happened on its own in any of my posts.
Laura is today’s host of dVerse’ Meeting the Bar. Laura says:
for today’s Meeting the Bar challenge we are writing a Cascade form poem.
Tao Talk 
The cabinets for card catalogs were often beautifully constructed of white oak. It is good to see one that has gone to seed instead of going to waste.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely comment, Steve.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish we had a seed bank around here, I think it’s a great idea. We do have plant sales and people in our village put plants outside their houses for anyone to take. But I love the thought of ‘tiny, local, handwritten manila packets’ in ‘undecimaled Dewey drawers’. I especially love the reminder of the time when:
‘We water burgeoning green splays
That puff with scented, blossomed hues.
Cosmos, zucchini, mint leather sage;
From springy plants to bountiful falls.’
LikeLiked by 2 people
Kim, I really don’t think it takes much to get one going, and not much to keep it going. Sounds like you have your way of plant sharing locally and they are already grown plants so that’s one jump ahead. Thanks for reading and your lovely comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
a veritable waterfall of drawers and in there cascades of seeds: “From springy plants to bountiful falls.”
A very nice reworking of the theme Lisa and a project that overflows this gardener’s heart with joy (thank your cousin)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Laura, thank you very much and I will.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the chanting quality to this cascade, a chant of seeds and cycles, birth and rebirth!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks much and glad you like it, Dora.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure, Li.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved those library card boxes. Some really great metaphors today. Mary S. would be proud I think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha! I bet she would. Thank you, Randy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I adore the idea of a seed bank and the repurpose of an old library cabinet the Dewey drawers… gave me an idea for my librarian series.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Bjorn you just made my day. Can’t wait to see them in your series :)
LikeLike
This is wonderful Lisa. I love your flow of seeds from seed to soil to sprouts to a cascade of flowers! Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dwight, thank you. I know you are an avid gardener and grow such beautiful things where you are.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Lisa. You are welcome. I don’t do a lot of gardening at this point. Just some tomatoes and beans.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What about those pretty flowers that grow along the side of your house?
LikeLike
The seed bank in you library is a really great idea. I save my zinnia and purple hyacinth seeds every year.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes it is. I kept back some of the cosmos and arnica for this year. It’s really cool to have such a wide variety of free seeds to choose from. What the locals don’t donate, heirloom seed companies do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a neat idea! I especially like these lines: “Undecimaled Dewey drawers filled,
Sprouting veg-herb-flower language
From green-thumbed benefactors.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Melissa, glad you like them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I covet the library cabinet ~~ I have the perfect spot for it in our entry!! Now, on to your Cascade, the library descriptives blew me away, also love the handwritten notes. Wonderful all of it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Helen, I would love to get ahold of one of them also. I hope one finds its way to you <3 Thank you so much for your kind words.
LikeLike
That is such a cool idea to share with everyone. More libraries should have them…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Max. Yes, they should.
LikeLike
A great concept…and what a neat “repurposing” of that cabinet. So cool, Lisa!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it is. My cousin was very creative like that when she was at my branch.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A refreshing poem Li. Love this idea of a seed bank in the library.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sadje, I see this year they are even more accommodating: you can order them at their website and they will mail them to you or you can pick them up ready to go.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s really great.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love seed banks and plant libraries. It would be nice to see these initiatives growing in communities. Such a cool poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Would love to see them at school libraries as well (if those even still exist.) Thanks, Di!
LikeLiked by 1 person
School libraries still exist over here. It would be good to get the kids involved. Unfortunately change in how we live has to come from the young so if we can start them off early all the better.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Library hums as we climb aboard”–I love that line. What a wonderful idea! Libraries are truly community hubs for many many purposes. (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Kerfe, and community hub is a perfect term for them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know the word is “uncatalogued” but I like “undecimated.”
Priscilla King
LikeLiked by 1 person
Priscilla, it’s actually “undecimaled” as in the Dewey Decimal System :)
LikeLike
What a fabulous idea! How cool to have a section in a library reserved for seeds to donate and receive.
Wonderful poem, Lisa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
<3
LikeLiked by 1 person
💞
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a wonderful write
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seeds like books need a safe sanctuary to be passed on to others. What a cool idea. You cascade tinkles with ingenious ideas. ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Punam, thank you for your always kind comments <3
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so welcome. ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
this is a very lovely poem Lisa :-) I loved what you did with it!
LikeLike
Carol Anne, glad you enjoyed it, thank you.
LikeLike