Soft Rot Logbook

as kept by one Dieffenbachia, window-bound, northern exposure

Day 1: Data Entry Begins
Light: present
Heat: artificial, misbehaving
Humidity: incorrect—dry, with a mournful edge
Water: 42ml, chlorine-forward
Pollinators: absent
Purpose: unknown, but heavy in the pot

Day 18: Drift
Dreamed of duhat trees, sweet collapse.
Dreamed of hands.
Dreamed of fingers sticky with sap
lifting me by the root—
calling it rescue.

Day 29: Behavioral Note
I turned toward the window again.
There is
no sun there.
Still, I turned.
petiole
cell,
grace.

Day 38: Language Malfunction
I tried to say light.
What came out
was the taste of calcium.

Day 40: Statistical Irregularity
No fungus. No wilt. No—
Still—decline.
Conclusion— I am degrading
and I no longer speak chlorophyll.

Day 52: Human Disturbance
The hand returned.
Said I might survive this light.
Gave water
without touch. Without intention.
Called it care.

Day 73: Dream
Thrips in my mouth.
Light from below.
prayer in green
once by scent.

Day 90: Climatic Theory
Dormancy has mistaken me for climate,
Its barometer
cracked
mistaking sap for rain.
Rescue for fluorescence.
Joy—a bruise spreading under green.