Cry of the Despairing Gardener
Phyllis Innes
Twitch and Chickweed, Jenny's Curse,
Coltsfoot, Groundsel, Shepherd's Purse,
Fluttering Rosebay by the wall,
Blazing Dandelion, Thistles tall-
Surge and crawl and sprawl around
In my hard and chalky ground;
Pull and cut and dig and hoe,
Still the darn' things gaily grow.
I give up this vain attack -
I shall never keep them back.
Bindweed rampant, Nettle, Dock,
Let them grow around the clock.
If the Good Lord wants to have weeds here
Who am I to interfere?
The poem refers to a garden in the hamlet of Melbury Abbas - the sloping garden at Spread Eagles, a medieval coaching inn at the foot of Melbury Down. Phyllis Innes lived there for many years battling the ground, which is indeed very chalky, but the garden is beautiful.
