A Clay Arch

A curved terracotta shard was wedged deep into the dry mulch. I hooked my fingers under the rounded edge and pulled. The clay popped free with a quiet scrape against the dirt. It felt cool and heavy in my palms. A crust of dried soil clung to the inner curve. I picked up a flat pine splinter from the ground and scraped the grooves clear. Two firm strokes cleaned it out. I set the shard upright on a flat garden brick to test the balance. It settled firmly on its broad lip without a single wobble. A solid archway. It gives the path a proper entrance.