Rising Damp

Because of the damp, it was undervalued;
floors like a thick jelly, and
nine years of wallpaper
a mossy flower
yogurt violets
orange rinds
thick bruising cornflowers
drooping off of the walls like a
boneless used car man,
swinging his hot air,
arms over room
and silky carpets.

Because of the damp, the water rising
was undervalued,
cleaning, filling and reclaiming what
once belonged to it.
Allowing  glue and nails and
lino to reconnect with their earth,
 ancient descendants of
plant and rock and
wood they were, and became again.

Because of the damp, the croft, walls
slow moving seascapes were valued,
noticed,
stood tall and rose up.
People pondered.