Most beautiful of poisons, <br />border-plant, <br />wearing your small green cowl, <br />little friar, little murderer, <br />aconitine flows <br />from your roots <br />to your deep purple flowers, <br />small deceiver, <br />centerpiece <br />for a poisonous <br />feast. <br /> <br />A few leaves <br />in the salad, <br />a few seeds <br />in the soup, <br />a thick root <br />to flavor <br />the stock- <br />& it is all over. <br /> <br />Let the lover beware <br />who buys you <br />for love philters. <br />The dose is deceptive. <br />One pinch leads to passion <br />but two will surely lead <br />to death. <br /> <br />Yet you twinkle <br />little blue bell <br />at the edge <br />of the garden, <br />wearing no warning <br />about your slim green neck. <br /> <br />Wolfsbane, Friar's cap, <br />Chariot of Venus- <br /> <br />how many may claim <br />to be poisonous <br />head to toe? <br /> <br />That honor- <br />Friar Death- <br />belongs to you.<br /><br />Erica Jong<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/monkshood/
