God Is A Radish Poem by Lois Read

A poet I know said
God is a radish.
I thought about that for a long time,
trying to make a connection
between God
and the crisp spring tang
of the first radish
I pull from my garden.

I am watching a mourning dove
consider a dip
in Helene's bird bath...
he flew off, dry
leaving me to grapple with
the theological import
of radishes.

They are the first seeds
planted in the spring (along with peas)
appear as brave clover-leaves
before even weeds,
thrill me
with their very presence
in yet cool earth
roots red tendrils
soon to swell
to fullsome divinity.

If God is a radish
then when I gave a bunch
from my garden
to Donna and Phil, who love radishes
I gave away God?

The mourning dove came back
has decided to bathe here
after all.