Notching the Cane

I brought the trimmed river cane stalk back down to the damp garden row. To track the peas properly, the rod needed distinct, even markings along its smooth pale bark. Resting the cane across my knees while sitting flat on the dry turf, I took the iron washer's edge again and pressed a small, firm notch every two finger-widths along the shaft. Each stroke peeled a tiny curl of dry reed away with a clean crunch. I pushed the rod deep into the dark loam beside the first buried seed. It stands plumb and steady, waiting for the first green shoot.