Ella Loveland

I am from the English ivy

Crawling up the siding of our old home

Beautiful and pestilent

With sprawling fingers latched on to rotting wood

I’ll pull the paint right off 

I am from the wasp nest below the swing set

Soft fingers reaching for what was thought to be honey 

Innocent and misguided 

I’ll hold this sting in my mouth 

I am from the spiny chestnut shells

Blanketing our late neighbors backyard 

Adventurous and wincing 

With bare feet carefully stepping onto large fallen leaves

I’ll tread where I please. 

I am from the flooding storm drain

And the tired father who heaves the debris

Eminent and exhausting 

With Cold wet legs set by a wood stove

I’ll see you when it rains. 

I am from the jewel weed and the plantain 

Ground into paste for the itching girls 

Generous and steadfast

Impatient nails dig into skin

I’ll soothe your wounds.