Trichocaulon cactiforme* <br />Slow in growth but rather rare <br />Year on year it’s never altered <br />Candle shaped and coloured grey, <br />What a boring plant it is! <br />Always measuring just two inches <br />Never mind my loving care <br />Watering, feeding, heat in winter, <br />Nothing ever makes it budge. <br />Other cacti burgeon, flourish <br />Trichocaulon stays the same— <br />Or it did, until today! <br /> <br />Scarcely could I credit it <br />First to see a little offset <br />Candle shaped and coloured grey <br />Then, by Jove, there was a flower <br />Quite two millimetres wide. <br />Quick! Indoors and get the camera, <br />Tell the neighbours, phone the press <br />Trichocaulon cactiforme <br />Has produced a miracle. <br />Never now shall I complain, <br />All my work was not in vain <br />Nor will you hear me any more <br />Calling Trichocaulon boring. <br /> <br />* pronounced ‘cac-ti-for-may’.<br /><br />Pete Crowther<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-particular-potted-plant/
