Most beautiful of poisons,
border-plant,
wearing your small green cowl,
little friar, little murderer,
aconitine flows
from your roots
to your deep purple flowers,
small deceiver,
centerpiece
for a poisonous
feast.

A few leaves
in the salad,
a few seeds
in the soup,
a thick root
to flavor
the stock--
& it is all over.

Let the lover beware
who buys you
for love philters.
The dose is deceptive.
One pinch leads to passion
but two will surely lead
to death.

Yet you twinkle
little blue bell
at the edge
of the garden,
wearing no warning
about your slim green neck.

Wolfsbane, Friar's cap,
Chariot of Venus--

how many may claim
to be poisonous
head to toe?

That honor--
Friar Death--
belongs to you.

© Erica Mann Jong

Read more poems by Erica Jong