Now I know how the hairdresser must feel 

Chopping the excess really has its appeal 

It was on my list of adult things to master 

Like doing taxes and reading faster 

I told my husband I didn’t know how 

He simply told me, “Ya just do it”

So I did. And wow!

He told me to wear long pants 

But it was a thousand degrees outside so I took my chance, wore shorts

And my hiking boots 

T-shirt and pink sun hat with sunglasses 

I probably didn’t look too cute 

Didn’t really know what I was doing. I was like an actress

But I stood in the yard and eyed all those green scraggly weeds, like disorderly bangs across a forehead 

They were even approaching the garden’s beds 

YouTube on my phone didn’t work so I couldn’t watch the video

I relied on memory from some time ago

My dad, my husband, the neighbors – all whacking away 

I punched the battery in to that long stalk and went to town at mid-day

Along the garage, at the fence’s edge and along the steps 

Sweeping that magical tool back and forth 

I remembered what my husband and the internet said

Vertical hold, level

And I remembered the neighbor walking in a straight line (albeit barefoot)

Wuuuurrrrrrr-wuuuurrrrr 

I had my earplugs in 

Little grass blades and dirt tickled my shins

I disappeared into a world of wonder 

Among the sunflowers and vines 

Whirling away, chopping, at play

I couldn’t hear the neighbor yelling at me 

I was a boater lost at sea 

Whacking away at unruly grass

I didn’t even hear the thunder pass

Along the sidewalk I tried to edge 

Turns out that requires some skill 

I tilted my tool upright 

Held it still 

Eh, that wasn’t 100% right

I walked the whole yard, around my house 

Like a curious mouse 

Just with my whacker 

Everything looked trim 

When I thought I was done, I started the whacker again 

It was the most satisfaction I’d had in some time 

Out of the turmoil, making straight lines 

My yard, my artwork, my canvas 

My home is now a beautiful campus 

The grape vines are tucked away 

The cucumbers and raspberries are in their place 

My husband pulled up and said, “Well done”

I told him, sweaty and dirty, it was so much fun 

Weed whacking, sending disorder packing

No excuses 

He said, “I knew you could do this”I told him, with sore forearms, “Ya just do it”