Four Poems
by
Michelle Valois
yarrow (achillea millefolium)
in some languages it is said
Achilles found yarrow
and healed
those who were
stricken / wounded
he did not
heal himself
I tried to heal my mother
but could only dull the terror
true I was safe from her wrath
but a lamb
for the den of hungry
wolves some would call
family
for that reason
give yarrow
to the lamb
speak softly
words of comfort
delight her
with the promise of wholeness
wormwood (artemisia absinthium)
to cultivate
places in the body
we take worth
set it in wine
and put it on the sore
if then the body be tender
take honey / ginger / rue
the herb maps the way
the way follows the sun
the sun blesses the lamb
the lamb asks the mother
why did you let her bind me
in that cold dark place
the mother then asks her mother
and her mother the same
and so on and on and on
knowledge passed
from generation
to generation
a repository of family lore
no one has read
until now
sage (salvia officinalis)
to strengthen the nerves
sweeten with honey
the life wanted
pickle with brine
the childhood you got
then be delivered
with safety
the poison will be cleansed
to the very bottom
it is a good thing
to heal in the morning
to preserve faith at night
the shape
settles in degrees
the outline on the sheets
is not the body you once knew
there is an elixir
made from
summer dew
cloud memories
the coo of a morning dove
mix in a silver chalice
with wine from fat grapes
take it
on a moonless night
when all alone
swirl the liquid
around your mouth
before swallowing
tell no one
until
the telling frees the mind
then share the recipe
healing is only
healing
when all heal