Poetry by Clare Best

Organic Poem

This poem is rooted in a humus
of decomposing syllables and vowels;
native words are balanced with imports
for word-diversity, GM words are banned.

Lean words prey on plump words
maintaining a healthy linguistic balance.
Ideas, cultivated in rotation, are rested
to prevent fatigue. Organic poets leave

spaces in poems where emotions breed;
they slaughter thoughts humanely
(the work is labour-intensive, skilful,
never quick or crude). This poem

has been tested: no illicit substances
were used to enhance its rhythm,
no toxic chemicals applied
to eradicate clichés or mannerisms.

Help preserve rare feelings!
Sustain the verbal landscape for your children
and their children; keep our language
evergreen read and write organic.