charm

clary sage across the tired chest
lavender by the anxious bedside
yarrow root in the tangled stomach
usnea on the burning wrist
hollyhock for the clouded lung
snapdragon to cool the fever
indigo to slow the spreading bruise
st. john’s wort to knock through
the stones stacked by depression

rocksalt to bounce off hexes
when you dream in the voice of exes
who vow to follow you
to every new city

what is magic but
human hands asking for power
over their own lives.