A Variety of Houseplants
A Variety of Houseplants
I. Houseplants
The young of crawling Spider Plant envy
of a family who tries to propagate
they seem to grow at an alarming rate
or so we decide over some hot tea.
These potted plants they have their indoor use
with fertilizer and well balanced soil
a little water and a little toil
they will ignore the slightest of abuse.
These leaves are dusted periodically
to ensure Stoma opens wide a mouth
to gather up the excess from my breath.
Provide my air photosynthetically
and from the North window and from the South
while I continue reading some Macbeth.
II. Mother-In-Law Tongue
Common dream of flowering foliage
a sudden vision of Chrysanthemum
whose colors are much needed pabulum
for soul who searches for beauties knowledge.
The green of leaf in pinched contrast to bud
of bright flowering succulent nearby
the tenderness of Orchid makes me cry
a Southern Exposure flowing through blood.
Some flower and move on to compost pile
while others hold their color all year round
to wonder while the Pineapple starts bloom.
While others share only once and awhile
up to the ceiling and down to the ground
to add some color to one low lit room.
III. Elephant Foot Palm
A Mother-In-Law Tongue from Africa
where Fall leaves grow in closed shadowed corners
as if to flower for silent mourners
brilliant colors darkness anathema.
Some of the plants will live and some will die
with proper care this home will save but half
what variety shapes this lithograph
yet not all blooms will make it to the sky.
The swollen base of Elephant Foot Palm
where from the Caudex sprouts wild foliage
that sit silently within these clay pots.
Where African Mother-In-Law stays calm
this medicine is a measured dosage
a lone Zanzibar gem is casting lots.
IV. Thanksgiving Cactus
Under the trance of mellow classical
where plants who tolerate low light connect
to create massive step ladder effect,
greenery, autobiographical.
To pause and gently hold a leaf in hand
and check the soil to make sure it is moist
so the tethers of light begin to hoist
to sun this path so intricately planned.
Today is day of Thanksgiving cactus
all prayers will lean towards this succulent care
to those who live too close to earth to see.
As paramour I seem out of practice
in corners hidden behind flashy fare
it seems these houseplants mean much more to me.
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I have a few of those houseplants also, Jamie. Enjoyable poem describing them.
Thank you for reading John. Jamie
I love house plants and enjoyed your verse, Jamie. Well done.
Thank you Phyllis. Happy New Year I hope everything is well. Jamie