Let me give you
this green heart
with seven main veins that fan out
from a starburst, supporting
an intricate web
This heart makes a lovely tea
Don’t be put off by the little round holes
letting the light through
They were made by workers, not thieves
They show it’s a good one,
with anti-inflammatory strength
Turn your hot human cheek a little,
brush this heart against it
Feel the subtle resistance,
the coolness that’s only
the usual mood of the air
What I want to give you
is peace
It smells like the forest where I found it—
tui chatter, understory, sweet wet earth—
but if you want to know it,
use your own breath
First published in Tarot 9, November 2024
Kawakawa leaf photo from NZ Plant Conservation Network
Jackson 