Transplant
The century plant on Moeser Lane*
is in full bloom.
In the fog
it appears foolish
out of place
far from it’s home in Mexico.
Like me it is a transplant.
Lonely? Perhaps
missing dry river beds
nestling snakes and lizards
teaching the lessons of
quiet and waiting and
the tender warmth of stones.
Encoded in the dream
world of roots and
seeds hitchhiking
from a time when
the sun was huge and near
And is now small and far.
Still there is enough
flickering to burn away
the lie of clouds
to tell the truth
of it’s own fire-yellow flowers.
By Carol Carlisle
Moeser Lane is in El Cerrito in Northern California. Century Plants don’t actually live 100 years but do live a long time. They are related to that Agave plant many of us have in your kitchen as a salve those little burns. This plant could heal a lot of wounds.
Sensitive words for an impressive centurion.
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Well said 🙂
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Very good Carol!!! And what a picture too. Love it!!!
Been “out of touch the last two weeks. Someone cut a fiber optic line south of Tulsa a couple of times and the internet has been too slow to use. I can catch it a little faster now and then. But in a little while it could be slow again. Keep up the good work and I’ll look at it when I can.
Neal
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Sorry to hear about your internet and fires. Don’t you think my folks would have loved this picture?
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