THE HERBALIST
They come to me for many things, you see,
a little Goutweed, Horehound and All-Heal.
Some Yellow Rattle for a barking cough;
I boil it with the root of Butcher's Broom,
or Colts Foot and some Common Marjoram.
A bridegroom came to me with smelly feet
and married wrapped with Hare's Foot in his shoes.
I used to have some Bucks Horn too somewhere
but rabid dogs are rare now in these parts.
Others will come for Snakeweed late at night
when tooth ache makes them pace the bedroom floor.
I add White Poppy to it then for sleep
and Periwinkle for the dreams which come.
In winter you can use black mustard seeds.
At harvest time I pick St Peters Wort
to have it ready for the twisted backs
and Clary too, which strengthens as it heals.
So many girls now come and talk to me
about a child who is not meant to be.
I give them Pennyroyal with Iris leaves
but cannot bring myself to take a fee.
I wonder if that unborn infant knows
the bitter, wormwood life it has been saved?
No one comes here if they are not in pain;
from giving birth or working or old age.
Black Hellebore when raving madness comes
and Moonwort for our bruised and fractured limbs.
My herbs, you see can make the hurting less
and ease your passing when the time has come,
but as for life, for that I have no cure.
