I overcame the chaos in my garden,

but cannot fight the chaos inside me.

Neglected, unattended, weeds had flourished,

had grown, set seed, and then had grown again.

So far removed from a garden planned and nourished

when tended by a constant caring hand.

Unable to look after it for a season,

I paid the price in sweat and toil and scar,

rewarded by some progress toward reason,

toward what things ought to be, from what they are.

When the gardener seems absent, soil will harden,

disorder comes where growth had used to be.

I overcame the chaos in my garden,

But how to right the chaos inside me?