constructing poetry

a cactus garden

it’s difficult to tame
a saguaro. their lives
are protected by reams
of red tape, and are not
easily transplanted. so my
garden has none. and no
cholla—jumping cactus best
exist at a distance
as vast cholla fields are burned
to save the cattle.
they are too big for me.

my garden is a tiny bowl
populated by Christmas cacti
that bloom in the winter—reds
and pinks and golds
waving me near enough
to try their spines.
one green bud is so
covered with needles, so tiny,
so thick, they look like they’re
soft enough to pet,
but when I do, my fingers
pay the price.

I keep it, tucked away
in a corner, a slice
of home.

Prompt for: May 6, 2016 ▼

Subject or Theme: Gardens, any type, any POV
Word(s) to Include: exist, wave (or any derivatives of these words)
Forbidden Word(s): grow, crop, cut (or any derivatives, compound or hyphenations of these words)
Additional Parameters: Minimum 24 lines
Remember, do not use forbidden words ANYWHERE, including title or the brief description.