Torrid Plants

Behind the scenes – while narcissistic June is
busting out all over – the first few quiet Torrid Plants
come out, begin to sprout, unbend, to send
a molten essence upwards through a fibrous fuse –

power a broad petaled flower to evince the necessary
steamy torpor – use their radiating, dripping forces
to provide July and August with their lurid heat:
spreading seeds of other Torrid Plants which promulgate

themselves with ease – collectively arterially coursing
closer to a fleet bright seizure of degrees – joining
to contribute to the steep ascent of temperature
which, measured on the scale called Fahrenheit,

eventually reaches mighty ninety and then thunders
towards a hundred. Wondering, as they have done
for their innumerable eons, if they once again can foster
yet another archetype of torrid summer, they do not,

I can assure you, much enjoy their reputation in some
quarters as a horrid bummer. Surely, as the sun’s
primary emissaries, Torrid Plants deserve respect.
Think of them with reverence when you sweat.

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