maddi rowe
introduced pest
you had green eyes like / a tree-choking ivy / an introduced pest / an invasive weed / i saw in your bio that you were scottish / you studied environmental science / the bagpipes crept up my neck / turning my ears scarlet / a highland mistress / i wailed at the amethyst sky / my feet bloodstained by the rough countryside / brave heart thrumming / against the stolen pearls on my sternum / you liked beer / also craft beer / i had no idea those were different things to be honest / rough / environmentalist / hands squeezed my ass / in the specialty shops / next to the local brews / never had a sip of beer in my life after dad offered me one / i almost spat it out under the christmas tree / the pine and hops rash and bitter bristling my tongue / in a hushed tone / between mouthfuls of probiotic cider / you licked your lips / and said you were into the schoolgirl look / i wondered how much you wanted to fuck / mother earth with a sundress on / bridging the gaps between modern-day colonisation / and greenpeace / i left you at the table / with my half-eaten lunch / messaged you later / i’m not ready to date / thank you for your time / and kind words / i burned all my skirts / and scattered the ashes over a braided river //
Maddi Rowe (she/they) is a writer and poet living in Pōneke, an owner of many unread books and an astrology gremlin. Her work is published in Starling, The Spinoff, Salient and forthcoming with Auckland University Press.