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Thistle and its sister

While I am not
Hansel or Gretel
Image result for hansel and gretel vintage engraving
and never expected anyone to leave me
a breadcrumb trail
Image result for hansel and gretel vintage engravingImage result for hansel and gretel breadcrumbImage result for hansel and gretel breadcrumb
so I could find my way
back to you
yet there was a trail of sorts
more piquant than pepporcorns
more subtle than bergamot
left
to my own devices
I instinctively
followed the blooms
made a fetish of purple
and took my chance
with nothing to lose
but the try

and so I began letting the flowers
show their petals forth
proud as pansies
morning glory
Image result for morning glory wildflower
or braided like pigtails
Winter vetch
Image result for winter vetch
and socially awkward
as Western aster
Image result for aster
aster's sister
plainly plaintive
chicory
Related image
other flowers figured forth
to point the way
most of them thistles
or so I thought

I don't know if
it's because of natural selection
or the survival of the fittest
or because certain adaptations
are so successful
that it doesn't make any sense
to imagine that there should be others
or could be others
or disappointed with what presents itself
and is just there
to see
and smell
and touch

I believe this is true
of thistle and its sister
burdock
Image result for burdock
that first surprised me
with her oddly broad leaves
rhubarb confident
Image result for burdockImage result for rhubarb
and reluctant blooms
Image result for burdock
and guarded flowers
Image result for burdock
that turn to burrs
Image result for burdock burrs
when you turn your back
or pick up your pace
sensing the light begin to dim

but leaving burdock aside
and returning to thistle
even here
there were many guides
competing for my attention
globe
Image result for globe thistle
Scotch
Related image
swamp
Image result for swamp thistle
nodding
Image result for nodding thistle
field
Related image
Pitcher's
Image result for pitcher's thistle
Hill's
Related image
plumeless
Image result for plumeless thistle
bull
Related image
swamp
Related image
and Canada too
Image result for canada thistle
I followed all these prickly dots
and realized
as I neared home
that thistle in itself
is a marriage of
clover
Related image
and dandelion
Image result for dandelion
and the purple
while pleasing
is not necessary
consider
if you will
sow thistle
Image result for sow thistle
which is fully Irish
the yellow tam
to match the Scotch
and when at last
I arrived back
at my door
having navigated
the weeds
with the aid of the flowers
I concluded
that Nature
is amply plentiful
for poet's play or pedestrian path
amply practical
for Hansel or Gretel.

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