In Risa Bear’s “Rhythm,” the speaker watches a woman working her way along a garden bed—setting down a kneeling bench and trowel, dropping low as if in prayer, digging, and settling each plant into a hole cut exactly to its root ball. The motion repeats with quiet precision. The speaker notices the spiritual quality of the work: when done well, it resembles monks or nuns moving through prayer, rising and lowering without striving, not seeking results or merit. The mood is reverent, patient, and calm. The woman’s old, bent trowel and rough hands make the scene feel lived-in and humble. By the end, the speaker sees the work as a kind of devotion—kneeling simply to do what needs to be done, leaving behind a row of glowing green plants.
Rhythm — Summary
The rhythm of the work is to set down Her padded bench, a flat, and trowel at the End of a bed and drop as if in prayer, Reach for the trowel (bent for her old Hand at right angles), dig, then grope for a pot. You may see each hole is deep and wide enough To exactly take the root ball. She carefully Holds this in her shade, tips the damp Mass in, packs with trowel, repeats all -- three Or four times -- then stands. Behind her, some Four plants glow green in any six feet of bed.
The rhythm of this work, when best, resembles How monks or nuns in supplication glide Easily to the floor, centered, unconcerned With body or mind, then rise, then glide again, Outcomes not sought, nor merit earned. Right to the end of the bed she goes, Kneeling to simply do with her rough hands.