The Seed

by PAIGE RYAN

DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL REQUEST FORM

Plant             Unknown (suspected Mother of Millions)

Origin           Matrilinear, Generational

Type              Invasive—alien,
                      introduction causes harm

Location       My body,
                      an ecosystem of
                      dirt-stuffed heart cockles

Original method of seed dispersal     Umbilical cord
                                                              like watering hose—
                                                              a body swells in womb,
                                                              takes what’s been given

Plant description     Quaking plantlets
                                  leap from leaf cliffs—scatter,
                                  screaming in echo chamber, ghosts
                                  not otherwise heard

Briefly describe the problem     Roots wrap every river
                                                      vein—my thirst is a desert
                                                      tongue of mudcracks

Duration of problem     The first time a woman was harmed
                                        and her voice became a whisper

Previous attempts at removal     Starvation—deny, deny, deny—
                                                      but every night I dreamed of sun warmed
                                                      tomato juice dripping down my chin

Please use the following space to further explain your reason for contacting us
                                                        Your website mentions aeration—to breathe again