The Iron Mesh

A stiff metal mesh cylinder stood upright in the garden dirt, guarding a young sapling. Dry weeds had knotted thick around the bottom wire. I knelt down on one knee, digging my boots into the dark soil. I took hold of the lower rim with both hands, fingers locked tight through the galvanized steel grid. Slowly, deliberately, I drove my weight backward. The roots tore with a muted snap, freeing the wire cage from the ground. I straightened the mesh, planted it firm, and cleared the base. A steady frame now protects the growth.