Summary

The speaker describes a number of plants that are being grown in a wild forest garden: among them, foxglove, ragwort, aconite, and more. In this area there are also trees with magical properties, such as blackthorn for cursing and hazel to enhance spellwork. The witch brews spells to harm her enemies. Nearby, parallel to this space, is another with an even more magical garden.

Analysis

The poem opens by establishing its setting: “In the hidden witch’s garden” (Line 1). There is potentially another meaning in this phrasing; the adjective “hidden” can refer to either or both verbs — garden and witch. Both meanings position the scene as something esoteric and sacred. The following lines list several of the magical plants being cultivated in this space, which are both planted through human intervention and wild harvested from the natural world. The first plant, foxglove, is given...