poetry is nothing but sod
a layer of grass
a soft sheath of life
on a crust of earth
grown stale


leaving want
for the substance within


poetry has no molten core
no sediment in layers
like lava cake
with its liquid heart


no caverns
no tunnels to explore
like honeycomb wisps
riddled with air


poetry is nothing but sod
on a crust of earth
grown stale
for stuffing birds
for scatterings of croutons
on measly salads


poetry itself is inedible
unless you are a cow
it’s good for stomping upon
with my big boots
for sifting for clover


but it’s still sod
nothing more

~ Leila Currah