by Judy I. Lin
perennial: a part of us remains
after the closing of the year
slender and creeping
roots matted, soil hidden
and when we thrive
we burst
with sterile shoots
stem hollow and erect
brush against the knee
although grass (Poaeceae)
we open pyramidally
into slender pedicles
of inflorescence
branch clustered
three-flowered
rarely do we stand alone
in wet meadows, low prairies
marsh edges, bog lands
in shade, streambanks or lakeshores
sometimes cool mountain valleys
salt chokes us and acid hinders
ready, hardy
circumboreal—
cut us down
and we continue
we persist, we carry on
JUDY I. LIN is a Taiwanese-Canadian writer of fiction and poetry. She is the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of the Book of Tea duology (A Magic Steeped in Poison and A Venom Dark and Sweet). Find her online at https://www.judyilin.com/
Hierochloe odorata, an index was edited by Terese Mason Pierre. It can be found in Augur Magazine Issue 6.1.
