a place in the marsh
For the last few weeks, as I drive by the ditches and wetlands on my way home from work, I am charmed by the way the bulrushes have burst and made their bountiful seed available to the winds.
The heads of the bulrush (Typha latifolia L., also known as common cat-tail or masette in French) are usually neat and tidy cylinders of dark brown, held high on a sturdy stem. At this time of the year, the seeds emerge in a copious fluff clinging to the brown seed-head like a beard, a lion’s mane or a furry hat.
When I was a child, we always called these plants ‘busby rushes’, presumably after the tall bearskin hats worn by the Queen’s Foot Guards in front of Buckingham Palace. Actually a busby is not the correct name for the bearskin, but is a hat worn by Hungarian hussars, or the Royal Horse Artillary, a ceremonial unit of the British Army.
Our two usual species of Typha are distinguishable by their leaves. Typha latifolia (broad-leaved cat-tail) has flat leaves. Typha angustifolia (narrow-leaved cat-tail) has narrower leaves, convex on the back.
~
bulrush in December
(Typha latifolia L.)
~
4:45 PM rush, the Marshlands
bus expels tired folk to familiar sidewalks
exhausts them in diesel cloud
a bulrush pushing its seed
to the wind in cold December
bearded and wise, fur hats and
ear flaps against the cold
breath expressed as icicles and rime
~
© Jane Tims 2011
nichepoetryandprose 
I see someone else has already mentioned this, but I’ll add to it — We used to call them “punks” too, lit for their slow burn and smokiness to drive away the mosquitoes. I recall someone making dolls by twisting the dried leaves. I spent a lot of time at the back of our pond visiting the cattails.
I love the imagery of your poem. Your drawing is beautiful. 🙂
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Robin
December 18, 2011 at 8:24 pm
Hi Robin. I am definately going to try this at mosquito time!!! Thanks for your comment. Jane
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jane tims
December 19, 2011 at 6:32 am
Your poem brought to mind being dropped off of the school bus on my way home this time of year. Beautiful drawing!
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Barbara Rodgers
December 15, 2011 at 5:10 pm
Hi Barbara. Thanks! I always think buses have more personality than other vehicles. Jane
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jane tims
December 16, 2011 at 12:17 pm
Excellent drawing and poem Jane.-Denis
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JD
December 15, 2011 at 2:05 pm
Thanks Denis. I wonder if anyone has done a botanical-type illustration for Typha! Jane
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jane tims
December 16, 2011 at 7:35 am
I like the drawing – almost like musical notes!
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Sonya Chasey
December 15, 2011 at 11:04 am
Hi. Thanks! They do look a little like music! Jane
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jane tims
December 16, 2011 at 7:28 am
For some reason we used to call them “punks” when I was a kid, and the smoke that came from lighting the ends of them was supposed to keep mosquitos away. Great sketch and poem Jane!
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C.L. Sostarich
December 14, 2011 at 6:24 pm
Hi. That’s interesting and I wonder if it worked to keep the bugs at bay? I know you can also use parts of the plant as food and the pollen as a substitute for flour. Useful plant! Thanks for your comment, Jane
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jane tims
December 15, 2011 at 6:33 am