SAM AURELI, formerly a design and construction professional, is now a self-described earthkeeper who writes the Substack newsletter Poetry by Sam Aureli. “Deadheading” was first published in Charlotte Cosgrove, ed., Poems for Protest (Rough Diamond, 2026). Sam’s most recent collection is On the Edge of Knowing (Kelsay Books, 2026). Click here to listen in on his conversation with Lisa Jensen.
My mental health definitely improves when I’m focusing on my flowers. Today I finally got around to digging up and splitting the irises I never got to last fall. And planting some sunflowers and cosmos and zinnias.
God, the world can be exhausting (especially these days). So many crisis to choose from. I tell myself not to selfishly retreat to my petunias, but maybe we all need some flower time to find the energy to deal with (each in our own small way) all the shit going on.
Thanks for the share.