Ragwort

By jennifer

Mon, 22 Sep 2008
  • 1826 reads
3 comments
 

Ragwort (22nd September, 2008, 10.30am)

Rip heart from roots
like Ragwort picking,
gloves slipping;
green juice staining;
grip becoming painful;
weed sliding through;
strength draining;
back aching.
Poisonous
and classified,
holds its yellow heads,
ugly in its pride;
twisted bellies;
damaged livers;
in horses’ guts
it, painful, slithers.

Rip heart from ground
with every sinew;
straining lungs;
I’m fit to burst;
blood and tears
and sweat are staining
all my clothes;
the progress seems
so slow and painful.
Yet I digress,
in some distress;
the tears are pouring;
the process boring;
watch my grip slide;
loosened hold on pride;
I, defeated, cede it.

Certificate U
Poem
Love, or something like it (Autumn 2008)
Love

Comments

Submitted by _jacobea_ on
Interesting description of weed pulling and ragworts. The wording of the second stanza, particularly lines four-seven, made me mental compare it to a medieval battle. Good imagery.

Submitted by jennifer on
Thank you. (It's not really a description of weed-pulling and Ragwort. It's a metaphor).

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
An interesting poem, jennifer and the ragwort imagery works very well. The ending, particularly strong:- "Yet I digress, in some distress; the tears are pouring; the process boring; watch my grip slide; loosened hold on pride; I, defeated, cede it." Ah me, I know the feeling well ... unfortunately. Tina