alone, the roots hold you.
They want to heal you
in secret.
Doc Nancy tried to explain it once.
But words tore at her throat the way
a flower tears when forced open.
Willow bark, they whisper,
will soothe Ruby's leg.
Wild cucumber seeds will cure
unmentionable sores. In secret,
she dosed Billie Rose and Bridget.
Squawroot seed for Anne's eyes
and lemongrass tea when squawroot failed.
Mugwort leaves crushed into wine
eased Rachel Cole's sciatica.
Rosehip pastes would sooth babies,
but they never did anything for
Bridget's baby's screaming colic.
Shepherd's purse to stop the bleeding
when babies kicked and tore from inside
and to give strength for a good birth.
Foxglove and ergot would lose babies,
the leaves giggled in her ear.
She gave ergot twice to Zandra Miller
before the girl turned fifteen,
and it had been painful both times.
But it was better than dying, the roots told her.
Better than living with shame.
She believed them and told Zandra that
it happened to every girl,
sooner or later.
Then she would pull out
her chokecherry wine--
for comfort.
