Wild Weeds Poetry Contest - Yellow Dock

"Ode to Yellow Dock"   In the summer this perennial grows often in meadows or where the stream flows.   Elongated tongue with red sides and tip a tea may be bitter if one should sip.   Yellow around the eyes The nose and the mouth Reddish dry cheeks Like a girl from the south   The root is collected a tincture is made sour, astringent to keep heat at bay.   Enteritis, colitis and the food it will sit inside the stomach just like a brick.   Irritable cough worse in the cold skin conditions which make you look old.   The tissue it is irritated And possibly relaxed Stagnation occurs The body is taxed   A nutritive tonic And minerals we need Loaded with iron The body it will feed   Diarrhea and dysentery Just won't prevail If taken quite regularly And without fail   If the throat it be swollen Sensitive and red Take you some yellow dock And get into bed.   by Natalie Vickery