you took me into the woods
thick humid shadows
clinging at the bottom of trees
pointed out the markers 
to find the coveted
bloodroot, ginseng, and mayflower
taught me how to dig
and leave behind something
for the next coming year 

but the ginseng is all but gone
you’ve been dead for so long
became the shade of the man 
walking with your cane 
hunting

I sure as hell 
wished you were alive
pointing out more markers
about what I’m supposed to do
but more than likely
you’d be like the rest of them
and walk out when I was reaching

the best thing about this
is that you died before 
I had to ask for you