Fertile

I have so much
dirt
under my fingernails from gardening

so much thick soil
new mooning black
I could plant ten thousand seeds in these garden (nail)beds
and sprout a whole forest of trees

make a whole ecosystem under my touch
huddle the howling fox the heavy elephant

the sky-kissing giraffe the wild black bear
and quick cheetah
to rest quiet in my palms

perch the screech owl
the eagle
and the wide-wing condor between my fingers

lifelines turned riverbed
fresh with moving water for all who thirst

because I have so much of the earth
under my fingernails coated

on my hands

I swear that
my whole body is fertile for planting