A Calculated Counterweight

A spent wooden plant label was sticking out sideways from the damp soil, its flared marker end swinging recklessly with every gust across the terrace. Such unanchored movement within the perimeter invites unnecessary distraction. I climbed the raised brick border and planted my sandal against the stubborn loam to steady my footing. Beside the marker lay a heavy, rusted iron nut left forgotten from an old trellis. With deliberate leverage, I hoisted the hexagonal iron and dropped it squarely over the wooden peg. The metal collar slid down the stem until it wedged tight against the flare, anchoring the wood into an immovable vertical spire. Stillness resumed.