Convent in Primavera Mexico by Elaine Reardon

Convent in Primavera Mexico

She examines the eyes

to make her prognosis,

assesses the whole person

makes her pronouncement.

Todavia esta toxica—everything is toxic.

 She bundles three packages,

 labels written in her hand,

 herbs gathered on hillside and forest.

She knows I won't stay here.

I know behind adobe doors there 

are women who have traveled far

from all over Mexico and the Southwest.

The convent fills with grace and prayer.

She feeds from her garden,

prepares herbs gathered in the hill.

This wise old abbess 

of fire, earth, air, and water 

the beginning and ending for so many.

Elaine is a poet, herbalist, educator, and member of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators. Her chapbook, The Heart is a Nursery For Hope, published September 2016, recently won first honors from Flutter Press as the top seller of 2016. Most recently Elaine’s poetry has been published by MA Poet of the Moment, 

http://www.naturewriting.com and poetrysuperhighway.com.  Elaine lives tucked into the forest in Central Massachusetts and maintains a blog at elainereardon.wordpress.com