Pokeweed
by Mike James


make a
simple salad of
the leaves
when
they are green
expansive
as summer

put in sliced
cherry tomatoes
grated cucumbers
diced red onions
to flirt with
the flavor

use any dressing
sweet or tart
light or creamy
or use
none at all

please
remember
though
not to eat the berries
even if
they are dark with
a beauty that stains
like desire
the berries are poison
for all but
the birds







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