Appalachian Barren Strawberry

Waldsteinia fragarioides

Don’t let the clearing the loggers left remain desolate. Grow an evergreen blanket over the grave of a tree’s shadow.

Treat each knot as a chance to sprout adventitious roots or open a still & turn sunshine into sugar, but go easy on the upward mobility: keep your leaves & flowers close-knit.

Say grace before raising your pollen-heavy heads to the ministering bee.

Neither barren nor strawberry, keep your fruit small & hard & your roots non-medicinal so nobody but the birds will bother you.

Stay together. Learn the humans. Stow light.