Katie Hunter

Last summer my tomatoes
Swept the garden. 

Downy tendrils swaddled jalapeños and 
My soiled hands 
Arrested dreams of eggplant 
Crept past my whispered pleas. 
Slow. Down. 

I pruned visions and 
Sacrificed limbs. 
Their heads bowed canary blossoms in 
A rain prayer
Unanswered. 

Still they grew. 

I lopped green 
Sucklings into my palms.
They tasted of air and roots
Untethered. 

This year I let them be.

Katie (she/her/hers) is a writer, educator, and creative writing MFA student based in Oakland, California. She has been published in the Bold Italic, Hecate Magazine, Porridge Magazine, and The ANA. You can find her at @kahunteroma and katiehunterwriter.com.