To Market, To Market

The common doomflower
sprouts in C4
and blooms when fed
blood.

Red breath, 
silken bone,
charred ruby eye

are just three
of its many names.

She knows them all.
She carries
a charred ruby eyed seed
strapped to her torso
as she enters the marketplace.

Before her, a table
that holds bowls
of lemon-touched water,
plates of herbs, a tray
of fresh fish
soaked in lime juice.
A sign on the table reads:

Whoever tastes the water
will want to taste the herbs.
Whoever tastes the herbs
will want to taste the fish.
Whoever tastes the fish
will turn from the market
and go home satisfied.

She stops here
and tastes it all —
water, herbs, fish, lime.

Silken bone gardener,
seeking a place
for the red breath to flower,
a moment of clarity:
the sun, the people
crowding in for the food,
everyone happy
and ready to turn from the market
and leave satisfied,
even her;
she reaches
for the button — this is

a time to sow,
a time to reap.