Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE CRAB CACTUS BLOOMS, by ELEANOR G. R. YOUNG


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE CRAB CACTUS BLOOMS, by                    
First Line: Today a miracle was swiftly wrought
Last Line: "a ""christmas carol,"" bursting into bloom!"
Subject(s): Cactus; Christmas Carols; Flowers; Gardens & Gardening; Leaves; Nature


Today a miracle was swiftly wrought:
From gray-green leaves,
Flat and unvisioning,
That bore no hint of beauty or delight,
Slim, rosy flowers, rich exotic blooms,
Unfurled their waxy petals, one by one,
Almost before my awed and startled sight.
How could it be?
How could such flat, thin leaves
Hide such rare color, such frail loveliness?
It was as if bright rubies had been pinned
Upon the homely leaves of the small plant
And suddenly transformed its meagerness
Into undreamed of beauty.
I know now why, in southern villages,
Where cactuses are grown in old tin-pans
Before low cabin doors,
They bear a jubilant and singing name.
One dusky Auntie calls across the way:
"My Crissmus Carol's riotin' in flowahs!"
"Mine's not jes' out,"
Her neighbor answers back,
"But it's mos' ready, rarin' now to go."
That is the right name for the curious plant—
A "Christmas Carol," bursting into bloom!





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