Meniscus Hibiscus

Preserve the uninhibited hibiscus  

to propagate proboscises prodigious  

in prodigal profusion so proliferous  

with showy shrubs of evergreen deciduous  

and rosy buds of velveteen floriferous.

Observe its large pink swanky Swamp Rose Mallow

share East Coast shores of brackish marshes shallow

with its white cousin Crimson-eyed Rose-Mallow

whose red or purple center so unsallow

is sim'lar to pink Halberd-leaved Rose-Mallow

in Midwest swamps or lawns or land left fallow.

Some forty cultivars of family Mallow

from China to U.S. by lake and hollow

include the Eastern Europe plant marshmallow

whose root first made confection sweet to swallow.

Conserve your haste, unhesitant hisbiscus;

your florid blossoms flit so fast they miss us;

your quick quotidian quota so capricious

denies our eyes your stamen's size ambitious

that three-inch crimson filament officious

with yellow anthers clinging avaricious 

as at the tip its five red styles rise vicious,

their dull dark scarlet centers so malicious

with short pink hairy borders raised to kiss us.

Reserve some time to scan the hibiscus petal,

when not rose, yellow, blue or other mettle,

the five bright orange-red two-inch wide ones settle

fused at the center like some scarlet kettle, 

their trumpet edges spread as if to peddle

 a song of long life strong like thin tong metal,

yet curved out meniscus-bent stamen and petal,

they last one day then roll up like some nettle.

Deserve we any more than this hibiscus?

Our lives, to us so thick, are thin, not viscous,

as we puff out ourselves bent so meniscus,

about as far as we can throw a discus.

Then in one lifetime's day sunset delicious

arrives to roll us up and then dismiss us.

Serve me so well no flower more than hibiscus,

each day they cause me pause and so judicious.

God made us the hibiscus repetitious

with beauty great but also so auspicious,

reminding us how fleeting are our wishes.

                        -- by Pete Voelz     2000