Category: Poetry

“I used to love my garden But now my love is dead
For I found a Bachelor’s Button In black-eyed Susan’s bed. ~ Anon

Whoever gave the synonym of weak
and straggly growth to weeds, had never pulled up
groundsel, grass or creeping buttercup
felt the tussle, tug and tweak 

of futile hands on broadleaved dock
rooted through the nettle patch
dispatched the knotweed with a match
or dealt pernicious poison to a hemlock.

Eradicate, exterminate, these  verbs
our turf  war battles with the weeds 
but when persistent papaver and cornflower seeds
the wheat, they give delight. And herbs

we gardeners tend and grow so tenderly
are wild in hedgerow, bank and verge
for those who know just how to forage*
- but still some mow them recklessly 

and lose the verdant gift of wilderness. 
When cranesbills* nestle down to grow
unplanted in a niche, I leave them so
whilst feverfew* that yearly does transgress 

some patch of ground apportioned for the cultivar
with charm of daisy heads, does stay my hand.
All these deemed weeds for breaching what is planned
tough stowaways with wilful, wildflower repertoire

we surely should leave room for them somewhere
and cease this herbicidal, cruel warfare.

*Foraging weeds in March – the Woodland Trust

Weed – a plant or wildflower considered undesirable because growing where it is not wanted. 
Weedy – (of a plant, flower, etc.) growing poorly, in a straggling manner.
Cranesbill -herb Robert – one of 3 native wild geraniums
Feverfew – Tanacetum parthenium perennial herb related to tansy and chrysanthemums

Sarah’s Poetics prompt “Weeds Rule OK” had me resorting to rhyme as part of this National Weed Appreciation day