the strawberry plant

a man and woman
his wife

argued

until the woman
plunged through the door

under threat of violence

and wept as she ran
through the surrounding forest

guilt ridden

and soon concerned
he followed her trail

guided

by strawberry plants
in the shapes of footprints

left in her wake

and when he found her
he apologized


and so today we keep a strawberry plant in our home

as a reminder and charm
and we do not fight.