The Bamboo Trellis

I stepped out past the front porch and took a steady walk down the sidewalk toward the neighborhood community garden, enjoying the easy stroll past quiet brick houses. By a raised cedar planter bed, someone had built a neat triangular trellis out of three bamboo poles bound with thick jute twine. I climbed onto the wide timber border and balanced carefully along the weathered wood. Reaching up, I tapped a dry, papery pea pod dangling from a curled vine. It swayed gently like a little pendulum, rattling its loose seeds inside with a soft, hollow rhythm. Leaning my arm against the smooth bamboo joint, it felt great to discover such a cheerful sound.