Using Soft Rush
Juncus effusus

Rush bends to every touch
bright green smooth stems
children plait to make bracelets

Pliant, woven into beeskeps
twisted into simmans cord
or a rush-rope to fetch a pony

The saddle-bags made from floss
the rushes strewn on the floor
or made into mats or chair-seats

It’s August for harvesting rushes
pulled rather than cut
for the basket-maker

Rush bows to every change
we’re peeling the stems for
the one white continuous pith

to make into rush-wick lights
held in a rush-nip holder
burning with a soft flame

Green grow the rashes O!