Ode To My Dying Cactus (Rough Draft) Poem by Lazarus Knix

Oh my most enduring cactus!
With more thorns than my years!
I shall water you for the last time
It shall be with my tears!

I recall the joy you gave us!
A representation of love’s endurance…
(And the ferocity it may bring)
I vividly remember, when my senile
Grandmother placed you by the
Light switch, and mother, In a fit
Of anger over some lost remote,
Or sheer grumpiness, smacked
What she thought was the switch!
She screamed so loud, you would
Think the claws of hell had impaled her heart!

And I remember the hours put into
Removing your teeth from her
Palm, consoling her, soothing her agony-
Yet we never blamed you, dear cactus!
Only ourselves.

You did not ask for much
(In fact, it didn’t look like you wanted much either)
Just a place to stand, a pot to grow in,
And a once and a while accidental high five- how do ya do?
You lived in front of numerous light switches
Slept often by the handle of the microwave
Even made your way into our bathroom once!
(I’d rather not speak of that one)
But ode to you, my dying cactus,
Ode to each and every thorn!
Ode to the memories you left us
For you depart at morn.