Sedge

By Gabriel Hartley • 1 February 2022

Sedge
a word so thick
stuck to tongue
sludge of the heavy sound

sledge—tundra—trudge
I operate within the curves of the S
and refuse the judgement
the fledgling syllable sprung

from the damp earth
roots in sluice filter
sodden swampling spark
spew from the maw of Ukko

flash of being
sky-struck peat posture
the slick storage of sun juice
tucked and tendered to memory

spittle from the mouths of babes
moist pledge of future lightning
smoky stench of carbon
muck of basin bone

muddy womb swirl
sedge