From 'Ladyslipper's Wisdom' Poem by S. Donovan Mullaney

Pine needle acid
feeds the forest floor's soil.
Ladyslippers drink.

A green leg, upright,
supports dangling ballet shoe;
there are no laces.

'How do orchids grow? '
Child vacations with father.
Questions buzz, loud bees.

The orchid trembles
if disturbed; when the flower
is picked, the root dies.

Surprise: the orchid
survives its endangerment.
They fill my side yard!

Their calm existence
can't be transplanted into
one's eager garden.