Midlife Cactus
Midlife Cactus
You are the cactus
I gave you
on your fortieth birthday.
Not the prick
of the diabetic needle
in the forefinger,
not the kamikaze
needle to my gut,
five millimeters, ten,
but the thin
yellow spines
of the oblong dome
held in place
with my tongs
while I trickle soil
along the roots,
the head
almost too pale
to be called green;
you never looked good
in that color.
With more succulence
than a cucumber,
you stand upright
beside hen
without chicks’
caliginous tongues.
I forget to water
you
until this very moment.
-refers from the word tongues in Foster Cameron Hunter’s poem The Significance of Singing Fruit
13 Responses “Midlife Cactus” →
Lynn Stanton
December 23, 2010
I love the layerdness of this poem, accomplished in such short lines, no less. Excellent!
Jessie carty
December 23, 2010
Thanks for commenting Lynn! Perhaps you can find something to refer from or to?
Lynn Stanton
December 24, 2010
I hope to have time to write this week and will cogitate, Jessie. Thanks for the nudge!
Beth Burt
January 5, 2011
Thanks, Lynn, for your insightfulness! This makes it all worth while
.
Addy
January 7, 2011
Lovely, lovely poem. I agree with Lynn’s insightful comments.
Beth Cagle Burt
January 8, 2011
Thank you so much for your positive comments on my prickly poem
.
Debbie
June 30, 2011
Amazing poem! Loved the title, too, and the ending . . .and everything in between.
Beth Cagle Burt
July 3, 2011
Thanks, Debbie!
Writing the poem was bittersweet…but also fun as I enjoyed “unloading” a tough subject in a lighter manner. That always gives me new perspectives to ponder. So glad you enjoyed it!
Christopher
July 7, 2011
This wraps “mid-life” up grandly. Well done.
Beth Cagle Burt
July 10, 2011
Thanks, Christopher. I do believe a large portion of people must deal with the “mid-life cactus” either directly or indirectly….Some of us simply have more spines than others, right?
christopher
July 12, 2011
Ha. Yes, I’ve been a particularlz spiny mid-lifer myself.
christopher
July 12, 2011
I hate it when the z and the y are switched on the keyboard. Argh
Rose Hunter
October 1, 2011
Love this.