Basil

Green flags
waving in July
from my garden.

I crush seeds for you
pumpkin, sunflower

Cut garlic and pour
olive oil into a blender

Pesto, the green paste I put
on my pasta,
butternut squash ravioli
egg sandwiches

Even now, I slink into Panarama
our local coffee shop
and order their tuscan ciabatta
wearing a mask, as if I was a bandit

Eggs, tomatoes, fresh salad greens, cheese
and pesto

Basil
for you
I wave the white flag.