use me

there is a metal drum
at the corner of the park
that says: 'use me'.

people walk by
throwing
their indifference
into the hole.

a woman gathers leaves
from the garden,
to cook a meal.

she listens,
she pauses,
to ask the plant
what she needs,
to thank her for the gifts,
to tell her how she's going to use them.

silence speaks and listens.

'use me' does not come with a disclaimer.
it comes with an unspoken reverence
to silence.
to life.