Poetry by Megan Griffith

Need

Plants need soil and water and sunlight.

Except in third grade we grew lima beans in the window

in plastic baggies with only wet paper towels—

no soil required.

So maybe soil is more of a want

than a need.

My roots remain coiled within me,

a seed surrounded by sunlight and water

but no soil.

I am disappointing my third-grader—

none of the other lima beans need soil,

their roots are grasping and reaching and needing

just fine.

The sad part is,

I could grow, I think. I want to.

But if I don’t need soil,

what else don’t I need? Do I need to grow?

Would it be safer to remain a seed,

needs met by virtue

of not existing?

Megan Griffith is a freelance writer and poet based in Dayton, Ohio. Her work has been featured in Highly Sensitive Refuge, The Mighty, Mock Turtle Magazine, and more. When she isn't writing, she's usually dying her hair, re-watching Parks & Rec, or making silly faces at her son.

Twitter: @meganwritesit Instagram: @meganwriteseverything