earth smell of sweet leaves ply, pink as to be

white, impales my throat. soft of petals' waxy

warmth, teensy blooms in the back there

un-wind the down-wind, ribbon-wise and redo

the blue hour once more while sun sets in my

hair, deep into lids closed by floating warmth.

dusk untangles with twilight's orange glow

eyes challenge sunset to a copper horizon -

sky bleeds across the thorns, wettest red

and the four cousins nestle in my head as sun

downs while we wet our lips again and again,

their tang caught on the smack of our palates

and a dream and a buzz sets this blue table 

seasofme020916

protea is both the botanical name and the english common name of a genus of south african flowering plants, sometimes also called sugarbushes (afrikaans: suikerbos). in local tradition, the protea flower represents change and hope.