Let me give you
this green heart
with seven main veins that fan out
from a starburst, supporting
an intricate web
This heart makes a lovely tea
Don’t be put off by the little round holes
letting the light through
They were made by workers, not thieves
They show it’s a good one,
with anti-inflammatory strength
Turn your hot human cheek a little,
brush this heart against it
Feel the subtle resistance,
the coolness that’s only
the usual mood of the air
What I want to give you
is peace
It smells like the forest where I found it—
tūī chatter, understory, sweet wet earth—
but if you want to know it,
use your own breath
