i prune sunshine tomato plants

the urban farm near my condo

has become the place i stop my

negative thoughts about my mother dying

the tomato plants are growing on top

of one another

small yellow tomatoes the size of a button

the kind my mother would sew on

rich people’s pants

a seamstress since she was young

now at 81 1/2 years her mind has forgotten how to thread a needle- how to turn on her sewing machine

pruning the tomatoes allows my anxiety to be used for good

the sunshine tomatoes are sweet and rich

enjoying the sun that now has room to shine on them