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Natural Remedy

Member since 2002 · Posted 3 May 2004 · Edited 4 May 2004 · 13 comments

Mint and witch hazel cures most things short of an illness. A sprig and a branch a half-thumb deep in hand-turned soils grown to its limits. To prune, pestle to taste if needs be.

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13 comments

[10] zodiac 3-May-04/1:12 PM Reply

Good. The first bit appeals to me most, my mother-in-law being the craziest homeopath in an area chock full of crazy homeopaths. Not being much of a gardener myself, I don't get a lot from the rest. Kind of a Seamus Heaney feel, I guess, only miniaturized - a teaspoonful of dirt turned.

"Grow mature and tall" bugs me a little. I don't know if that's gardener talk or not, but it seems one of those adjectives should be replaced with a better one - doesn't matter which.

Good as ever.

[8] Shuushin 3-May-04/1:26 PM Reply

The word "can" just irks me. Given your propensity toward an economy of words you could easily just loose "can" and put an s on "cure[s]" - does it hurt the meter then? I don't think so; up to you.

For some reason I read this as an Amish person might - and it cracks me up. Actually it has a comedic feel because this concoction sounds useless; it has all these disclaimers and ways for it to be messed up.

In some,
most things - short of illness,
as long as the soil is hand-turned, specific planting depth, frequent watering, etc...

So, I'm going with that you did this effect on purpose and I give you a nine for now (until you change it, because you will - and there's not a thing wrong with doing that).

[9] deleted user 3-May-04/1:30 PM Reply

The first verse is funny, since witch hazel is used on bruises and inflammations, and mint tea is supposed to be very healtful for many ills. Mint doesn't propogate well from seeds; shoots are best. I don't know about witch hazel. Mint doesn't grow tall, witch hazel does. "To taste if need be" but does anyone taste witch hazel?

[8] Shuushin › deleted user 3-May-04/1:40 PM Reply

It does have a comedic feel to is somehow, doesn't it?

[n/a] richa › deleted user 3-May-04/1:40 PM Reply

yep might change the bit about tall. I meant to its height really, not absolute tallness.

[8] edpeterson 3-May-04/3:17 PM Reply

To taste if needs be...i aint no fuckin gardner, and maybe this phrase is an apt ending amongst gardening type folk, in the fold, but it leaves me a little limp, and desirous of something more satisfying.

[9] deleted user › edpeterson 3-May-04/3:19 PM Reply

These are remedies to "taste" only if needed.

[10] INTRANSIT 3-May-04/5:47 PM Reply

"grow tall and tall..." maybe. It's a Whitman thing. I dunno. I like it as is. I tend to overlook burned leaves if the root is strong.

[8] Shuushin 4-May-04/7:33 AM Reply

Aye - cleaner.

questioning "in some" now... don't hit me...

[9] deleted user 4-May-04/11:25 AM Reply

The first verse seems awkwardly worded, though understandable.

[8] edpeterson 4-May-04/11:53 AM Reply

I find it less readable now. Well, less clear.

[9] deleted user 4-May-04/1:40 PM Reply

You may have set a record on number of revisions in one day. This, I think is better, clearer, assuming I remember correctly what it said before. However, I think you've lost some of the mystique the poem originally had.

[7] Prince of Void 7-Aug-04/2:51 PM Reply

sth made me think about this poem ..welldone