Kathy’s fence line boasts thriving poison ivy © Kathy J. Sotak

How beautiful you are

Your blood is like acid

“The birds eat their berries,” they say

“And, its native,” they hit their touché

Nine patches of rashes on my skin

But I’m going to win

In the meantime

I admire my ivy fence

Where the birds can happily perch

As I’m left in the lurch for my search

Amen