One tree composes the entire sassafras grove Vegetative manifest destiny propels its growth
Even as the green leaves turn black
I searched for that sinful seed That began this unchecked growth Of endless reproducing replicates
Fatigue, distrust, remorse Anticipation, heartache, shame Every emotion I encountered Claimed to be a person with that power
Yet feelings are false and can be fallen The bark I’ve scratched, the leaves I’ve torn Some I’ve even overcome Still the forest only thickened more
Then I fell myself
Now my ambition, once unjustified and diffuse Sprouts with the vigor of sassafras Reclaiming land thought lost with a green And very visible hand that holds onto mine
The forest continues to densen Sweet sinful confusion still conceals the heart Beating the path has only become harder But in your eyes I see my pain Irrelevant as the means to the end
We will find the root And steep its very core We will drink it And we will see more
Background:
Info and pictures of sassafras: http://forestry.ohiodnr.gov/sassafras. Relevant is that sassafras trees can reproduce by vegetative propagation so an entire lot can actually be a single tree.
Sassafras tea has been said to have medicinal properties and used to be the flavoring used for “root” beer. However, laboratory tests have shown that safrole, a chemical found in sassafras and other plants, may be carcinogenic and has been connected to liver cancer in lab mice (although these tests were performed using rather high dosages).