Arizona's Saguaro Cactus - In A League Of It's Own Poem by SUNDARAM SARMA

The saguaro cacti in Arizona are a unique one of their kind,
That they grow only in the Sonoran Desert, one should not mind,
They have several features that are seldom seen in their ilk,
One thing for sure is that they hardly show signs to wilt

The correct pronunciation is reportedly "sah-wah-ro",
A tongue twister by any means, if one may say so,
When fully hydrated, they tend to be very heavy,
Ranging from one to four tons, can you savvy?

Their life span of up to two hundred years sets them apart,
Growing more than fifty feet tall, though not in fits and starts,
A fully grown saguaro can weigh more than a ton,
The stats are such, that enough hearts can be won

The saguaro cacti arms impart an iconic look,
Their number in each cactus rarely go by the book,
The cacti silhouettes are a sight to behold,
So remarkable indeed, if truth be told

It's growth stats are unusual considering it's form,
Just an inch in the first decade is the norm,
Six feet in seventy years and fifteen in a century,
Going up to even seventy feet in a double century

Desert conditions enable the cactus to survive and revel,
The thick wax-coated skin waterproofs and prevents shrivel,
The skin's hard spine and flexible bristles is as if an inspiration,
As it serves to minimize water loss to the air through transpiration

Creamy-white saguaro flowers with yellow centers are a tad unique,
More stamens per flower than other desert cactus makes them mystique,
Not all of the flowers on a single saguaro bloom at the same time,
Blossoming at night and closing by next midday, invariably each time

The inevitable sunset photoshoot experience is one to treasure,
With the clouds looking to explode in color in no small measure,
The saguaro silhouettes in majestic splendor are a visual treat,
A perfect Instagram shoot to sign off on, before making a retreat