The Shark Poem - from my writing class

In my creative writing class, we did an exercise called a "garden poem", where we had to write about growing something that wouldn't traditionally grow in a garden. The poem had to answer a specific set of questions, which I'm not going to copy out here, so it was in some ways quite prescribed. This is what I wrote.


The Shark Poem

How to grow your own shark at home:

Take the minds of the oppressed youth
of a police state; give them space.
Let them begin to search and make a noise.

Plant, when angry and idealised,
in liberal soil. Keep cool.
Feed with Coca-Cola. Allow time.

You should expect, firstly, to see the teeth
snarling and snapping at the strangely open air.

The fruit will come at different times depending on your plant.
You will find it soft and black and cooling on the grass.
Eat 'til you feel all full up with thunder clouds.

Leave shark to grow.
Allow to move if needed.
Wait for flowers.


Hattie Samuel