Japanese Knotweed

Franklin Gulf

How am I to hold love for you

When you choke out all that I love?

You flourish

At the expense

Of others.

You do not create habitat

For the wildlife that I love.

But I’m sure

In your native land

You do.

Are you homesick?

Do you miss the companions

Who kept you in check?

And are you just

Voraciously

Trying to find new ones

Here?

You were likely kept in balance

Back home

Until another being

Another spirit

Interfered.

Now you’re lost

Unmoored

Invasive

And prolific.

What can we learn from you

As you take over?

You seem

Like humans

To be determined

But when moved out of balance

Your inner demons take over

And you spread

Uncontrollably.

Maybe we are possessed

By the same spirit

The one that causes us to spread

And to destroy

Without balance

Or care

Or love.

Do you love?

Do you care?

I think that

Somewhere

You do.