The Modern Cactus - Nov. 1, 2024

won’t be caught dead

alone in the hot dry desert

here they like to be treated

more civilly with water and food

planted in front yards

side yards backyards

of mobile homes mansions businesses

airports convention centers

they want to be appreciated

for a unique statuesque beauty

wishing people not fear them

but approach in quiet admiration

especially in spring when they offer

those crazy colorful flowers

because we are curious and

dangerously forgetful

someone reaches in and receives

the bloodletting prick of a finger

and gets that stony cactus look -

that heartless blank expression

Now whose fault is that?