Autumn Olive

The creep is on
upwards of five to ten feet
outwards into the marshes
berms fences
entangled with
root of bladdernut
trillium oak

Even a ciotog
ends up flummoxed
bewildered
hare in the headlights
invading army of
seed and air
transported into an
enemy territory
with no enemies
a wisp of the
silver tongue is
all it needs to conquer
this dense thicket
this wily invader
is bane to the
conservationist
naturalist
leaner towards the
beneficial to
wasp and waxwing
alike

All plants are not
equal –
they have their
exits and
entrances
upon this human-
made stage
some are winners
in an alien territory
ensuring the loss
of so much

The mirror of man
is best at
shoving –
the flower
the seed
the leaf
into his own image
man – the
greatest invader
of all

Spring 2024