Sounding out the scripture
of a leaf heartbeat
i was weeding in the garden, found one that had flowers blooming on the back of her leaf that was no longer than my pinky finger,
a row of tiny dusty blue beings lined up along the spine
and this creature was to be destroyed?
i couldn’t pull up any more.

There i am soothed.
a still sensation stops by me and offers me a breath
emanating from the earth between my toes and the chest high basil i’m trimming.