Herbal medicine
when you start,
it’s about pulling out the tall weeds
the spiky ugly ones
easy to grip, but thorny
– quick tug and they’re gone
then there’s the grass
lush and even from a distance,
but can you see the harsh invaders
the imposters and the slugs?
this is not the lawn you want
nothing will change until you sort it out
don’t you see?
so you dig and you dig
until there’s a pile of rocks, some dead beasts,
a stinking mound of rot, and even some desiccated dog poo
now you can start to put it back together again
Pic: 
Trudie Smith Photography
