mustard’s captives
Wisps of yellowing stalks surround my bare feet, toes painted teal the golden red Scarf also draped across my shoulders and my fingers folicking Alongside the mustard plant, tugging, the push and pull then the mustard lets go of its grip Releases and the fringes caress my calves. Cape-like Yellow petals drifting to the dirt, tinier seeds falling by the hundred into the earth settling… spreading, sprouting…Suffocating out golden Poppies and sage brush, wildflowers that never grew OFF TRAILS FORBIDDEN the sign reads My cape continues to drop the mustard seeds as my fingers keep dancing above The blackeyed california sunflower brushes, collecting a few of the fullest stems Bold black center with seeds frilly within white cocoon dropping behind me Clippings in hand for my vase to be drowned Past the gate and into the kitchen, bare shouldered was I lukewarm water, too much sugar Seeds on the wooden floor, later swept and thrown away Seeds abandoned on the table brushed off to join their comrades. Yellow elongated petals bruised brown, winkled The mustard seeds sweetly settles, slowly sprouts and suffocates The yellow californian sunflowers blackeyed and wilted. Faded scarf hung by the rusty gate, The fringes dotted with the petals and seeds of paths I wandered My toes are dusty and my teal paint chipped off Glinting against the earth, my feet are in sandals against the bare dirt and dust.
Submitting my piece this was drafted for a class assignment 2021, but I love this piece because it reflects my values as a conservationist. As a Deaf woman, this is one of my first few works with Poetry and Free Verse at that. I’m a senior at CSUSM, expected to graduate this May and LIT/ LWTR Major. Enjoy my work titled “mustard’s captives” and I plan to either become a Deaf teacher or Deaf Forester/ Deaf Ranger in National Parks Service.
Note: The yellow mustard is a highly invasive plant in Baja CA meaning in San Diego as well, which is what this piece is about 🙂