Competition

Cherry

By Rhiannonw

Thu, 28 Jul 2022
  • 1000 reads
13 comments
 

Goosegrass shoots up clinging, climbing
choking, smothering the hedge.
Shrouding curtain seemingly a conquest gains,
but quite soon its time is ended – withering away
and the sturdy hedge recovers, perennially remains.

[IP: contest]

Certificate U
Poem
Nature
Nature
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by catherine poarch on

Brings to mind such a lot in a few lines - brief life of success, strength in standing firm - and I love it starting with 'goosegrass' which I'd never heard of but like the sound of!

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Catherine. Have you not come across 'Cleavers' with its sticky seed balls that cling to you as you brush past it, and children like to stick the sticky balls and stalks on your back?! I had hoped I'd got a photo of it covering a portion of hedge, but couldn't find one. The photo just shows a little section of stem and leaves.

Apparently geese do enjoy eating it!

Rhiannon

 

Submitted by catherine poarch on

I know the plant but not the name. I just asked my mum, (who knows all the names) but she didn't know what they were called in the West Country.  Some kind of sticky triffid though. smiley

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I gather it gets called Sticky Willy or Sticky grass in some places! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you for the cherries! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

You've written an illustrative poem that describes this lively competetive Goosegrass. I didn't know it flowered, so you've taught me something new Rhiannon.

Thank you for sharing.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

 Thank you, Jenny.

The 'sticky balls' are actually the seeds and get distributed elsewhere by clinging to animals' fur! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

What a good subject for the title :0) They  really are like a curtain! I really like how you convey the speed of its growing with all the commas in the first part, then slow down for the growth of the hedge

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

yes, thanks. The hedge is much more steady, strong and compartively permanent isn't it? Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

It's called sticky grass here! I love how we have such a changing landscape in this country. Still not 100% convinced it's worth enduring the winter for a glorious spring, but I do enjoy watching everything in nature co-exist. Thank you for this reminder Rhiannon and congratulations on the cherries!

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you!

Of course we have to endure winter, but the antiicipation helps, and we appreciate the spring the more when it comes! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by marandina on

"...sturdy hedge recovers, perennially remains." The wonder of nature. It's a glorious thing. Enjoyed the poem, of course. Paul

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Paul. Rhiannon