annual birth of blossoms
on Mother’s
coffee table
in her long
silent living room

Schlumbergera bridesil
the Christmas cactus
a Fuschia outburst
centres tinged yellow
streaked by white

some virgin buds keeping closed
until debut; long ballerina’s toes
on point

jagged leaves extend
from a tree-like umbrella
cascading in vertically siamese sequence
their emerald green
bordered by warning barbs

flamboyant petals
flourished by light
possessively guarded by
the prickles of foliage

annual brightness
on Mother’s
coffee table
in her long
silent living room

01/07/2004