Ode to a Succulent

Have I ever told you I cannot
break my mind from what I love?

I wake running to the first thing
I can perfect. You, a living thing
with leaves blushing in my absence.

Listen, my mind is a channel of chutes
assembled in perfect rows.

My desires rush down,
neurons shooting my fingers,
electrifying my ankles.

As a child I could not fish, could not
cast onto green glass and stab a world.

There are no moments left for gazing at water.
I apologize for the moment I decide to forget you.

Elisa Rowe

Elisa Rowe

Elisa Rowe (formerly Crawley) is a neurodivergent immigrant, writer, educator, and poet. Her work is published or forthcoming in SAND Journal, the International Women's Writing Guild anthology 'Heels