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This one's a cliffhanger - sailors At sea sicken for A haven from the waves, Searching the shore, Finding in rocky coves A promise of kindness in its petals, Healing in its heart-shaped leaves. |
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Scurvygrass is salt tolerant and grows extensively by the sea. Containing lots of available Vitamin C, it was used to treat sufferers from scurvy - "those that lie lamentable sick of the scurvies", as Gerard put it in his Herbal - which particularly affected sailors deprived of fresh vegetables while at sea, so collected as a cure when they made landfall. |
What a charming little “herbalist” poem. Is this the next installment of a series?
ReplyDeleteI noted the alliteration, is it mean to conjure the drone of the sea? Very positive imagery in the final lines. Looking back at the previous few poetic offerings I notice a very cheery hopeful tone resonates through them - that’s my interpretation of the language used. I’m not a poet, nor am I criticizing, but maybe the next herbal poem should take another turn in emotional feel? It’s always a pleasure reading your pieces of art, looking forward to the next adventure!
It might be, continued on my new blog location.
DeleteAlliteration here, yes, but also half-rhyme and an attempt at compression.
Thanks for sharing - not a plant I see often not living near the sea. I notice the Latin name, Cochlearia, derives from kókhlos, seashell, which is also fitting and puts me in mind of a conch calling sick sailors back to shore.
ReplyDeleteI think the original Greek source is a word for ‘spoon’ - a spoonful of medicine! ;)
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