Betsy Merbitz

Medicinal plants surround us, whether we live in the deep woods or an urban neighborhood. Many humble weeds, growing in sidewalk cracks and alleys, are actually powerful medicine; these plants are ignored by most and often intentionally eradicated by gardeners. My series of poems on medicinal plants invites readers to connect more deeply with the plants around them. The first step in my writing process is to spend time with the plant. I get quiet, listen to the plant, and allow myself to hear what comes to the surface. I observe the plant in its habitat throughout its life cycle and write my first draft in the plant’s presence. I also prepare and drink a medicinal tea of the plant, taking the plant’s body into my body. I revisit the plant frequently throughout the revision process and read my final draft to the plant. In this process, I feel I am a translator as much as a writer, as I strive to hear the plant’s voice and transform it into a poem.