MILKWEED PODS

Dazzling arrays of spidery floss,

     Light, but shielded,

     Hollow and waxed filaments,

Capped off at one end with dark seeds,

Spill out of slits in dry, fibrous hulls

                    Covered humbly in small spicules,

On the outside,

Soft splinters are airbrushed  

into rough coatings for

Smooth waxed insides where

Gossamer threads are spun

Into simple wings to sail upon fall winds

And float among rain drops to moist soils.

And the pale green pods, dried into brown shells,
           Held by shriveled veins with graceful

                       Curves and twisted knots

                               hang aloft on plant stems 
                                    next to leftover leaves.

An unacknowledged beauty

Overridden by delicate winged seeds that

drift among hay field grasses

To bear milkweed for the monarchs.

© cmheuer, 12/2019