earth regenerator

by Desert Spider

i am indian tobacco. jupiter's rod. candlestick. mullein.
i grow where earth has been burned.
i grow in vacant parking lots.
i grow in places you'd least expect it.
they poison me with chemicals.
they misunderstand me.

for one year i am a rosette.
and then my masculine stalk grows tall. i grow taller than you, if you allow me to.
i am good for your lungs.
when your air becomes too polluted, you will look for me.
you will feel bad that you have poisoned me.
i will be in those places you abandoned or left as forgotten.
my roots help the earth to regenerate.

i don't ask for much.
you do.
and when you come to me again
afraid, helpless and wondering...what the hell do i do
i will stand with you.
i will remind you that you too can grow new roots
in unexpected and forgotten places.
i will remind you that you too can be a jupiter rod, a candlestick growing tall

i'll give you my leaves and i'll listen to you cry as you breathe and drink them again.
i will help your lungs to grieve in fall so that you can give birth to something new in spring.