Petals
The feel of silk between finger
and thumb, a delicate wash of pink
so easily torn, after a brief
efflorescence destined to wilt.
They form part of the corolla,
a eudicot with four or five,
or monocot with three or six,
surrounding reproductive parts,
stamen and stigma, brightly coloured
or unusually shaped, with a symmetry
bi-lateral or radial, regular
if identical in size and shape.
Sepals and tepals make the calyx,
protecting and supporting the bud,
like a whorl of arms enfolding you.
The flowers compete to attract the bees,
butterflies, beetles, wasps, and moths
with sweet scents and ultraviolet guides,
or a smell of rotting meat to bring the flies.
Size matters — big flowers
attract the larger pollinators,
humming birds and honey eaters,
monkeys, lizards, gliders, bats,
lemurs, possums, even rats.
