The Drastic Garden

by Grace Shaw

THE DRASTIC GARDEN

It is soft to walk. Poplars

loft, nimble and thin

along the water; from whom

this river runs I am not

yet required to know.

Entire banks of baby’s breath

relieve my eye,

though within them

every pinhead rose

opens: its own

infinite interest.

Gloamings are red here.

Sunrises widen me.

Vast grasses sweep off

toward no walls and no

other wanderers. I come

privately invited, yet I am not

lonely here. This place,

this—way—

requires nothing

but the rest of me.

GRACE SHAW

GRACE SHAW is an emerging poet with work appearing in journals including Ekstasis Magazine, Fathom Magazine, The Way Back to Ourselves, and Reformed Journal. Her poem “Say It Like Flowers” won the Audience Choice Award in the Bright Wings Poetry Contest 2022 (presented by Ekstasis and the Makers and Mystics podcast). Having earned her MFA from Seattle Pacific University, she now lives, works, and enjoys the symmetry of succulents in Los Angeles, California. You can keep up with her at graceshawpoetry.com or on Instagram @graceshawpoetry.