I have tasted its roots,
often, in many places,
in many guises—each tree’s roots
sustains, so, as magnanimous
nitrogen-fixing bacteria, I complement
a tropical species; Amazon roots breathe;
or a vole gnawing spicy spruce roots
in Alaska, or as beetle nibbling tangy
gnarls of New Mexican juniper roots.
I am fungi to the roots of mountain
fir and pine; I am grain
of humus sampling sugar maple roots.
I am granite granule or flake of quartz
at the massive roots of sequoia; I am the sand-
stone kiss to ancient twisted roots of bristlecones;
and once again, tonight, in Florida, I am
fossilized gastropod shell of primal seas whorled
in the timeless communion of royal palm roots.
Of sacred taste of Earth I partake.
Published in Cider Press Review, Volume 26, Issue 1.
Karla Linn Merrifield has had 1000+ poems appear in dozens of journals and anthologies. She has 16 books to her credit. Following her 2018 Psyche’s Scroll (Poetry Box Select) is the full-length book Athabaskan Fractal: Poems of the Far North from Cirque Press. Her newest poetry collection, My Body the Guitar, nominated for the 2022 National Book Award, was inspired by famous guitarists and their guitars and published by Before Your Quiet Eyes Publications Holograph Series (Rochester, NY).
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