Painted Fire

The Indian Paintbrush seems to be on fire,
this flashing flower named also Paintedcup,
its green bracts streaking red as they grow higher,
'til all their tips are scarlet highest up.
On hillsides, ledges, prairies, meadows, fields,
the painted blossoms' hundred species glow,
from Maine and Canada on West their yields
on upright stems from one to two feet grow.
The state flower of Wyoming is the Red,
though some are red and yellow or just yellow;
the painted tips all cluster at the head,
like painted feathers on an Indian fellow.
Who paints these bright blooms with such fine finesse
fires us with warm love too--and tenderness.

                                -- by Pete Voelz           2001