Neon Seedlings

We found the rooftop full of tin And carried bags of soil in The landlord laughed at all our plans Till basil covered both his hands We strung some lights above the beds And brought the neighbors up instead Neon seedlings, grow with me Little roots above the street Hands in dirt and hearts in time Watch our patch of city shine We held a dance to buy a hose The quiet floors came up in rows An old man taught us when to sow A little girl ran every show Neon seedlings, grow with me Little roots above the street Hands in dirt and hearts in time Watch our patch of city shine We lost tomatoes to the heat And shared what grew among sixteen Nobody left with very much But everybody left in touch Neon seedlings, grow with me Little roots above the street Hands in dirt and hearts in time Watch our patch of city shine The lights go out, the roots go deep A small green promise while we sleep