Just now a few stray worries set me shivering like these black cohosh in a light breeze. Tingling micro-movements also mixed with anticipation, fear, pleasure. Perhaps you too can feel that quiver in the French “des frissons.”
Black Cohosh, meanwhile, is safely rooted
in the soil by such roots as these,
so beautifully drawn by herbalist Doug Elliott
(Wild Roots, A Forager’s Guide,
from Healing Arts Press.)
Frissons
by Sara Eisenberg
ceaseless, the inner move-
ments, mo-ments,
i am leaf stalks in a strong spring
breeze, shivering in spite
of warm air,
long blown
away
but
for
my
gnarly roots,
scarred and sprouting pinkish
buds from which emerges new growth.