Hoeing 
 I sometimes fear the younger generation
 will be deprived
 of the pleasures of hoeing;
 there is no knowing
 how many souls have been formed by this
 simple exercise.

 The dry earth like a great scab breaks,
 revealing
 moist-dark loam --
 the pea-root's home,
 a fertile wound perpetually healing.

 How neatly the great weeds go under!
 The blade chops the earth new.
 Ignorant the wise boy who
 has never rendered thus the world
 fecunder.

                          John Updike