Atonement

In the yard
thinking
was it this hard last year
forgetting
I’d said that
the year before.

Reluctance
gives way to sweat
and I tug:

The dry
easy weeds
of sandy soil,
reluctant grasses,
and the morass
of the most
bountiful patch.

Along the house
I encounter
potato bugs:
Roly-polys
we called them,
crushing their black bodies
with our bare feet
walking home
from swim lessons.

Today I spare
the creatures,
bring down
the rake
with care,
make amends
for the accidental crimes.