arisen

the long spined poisonous cardon

looks glorious in the afternoon heat

her buds pressing themselves open into flower

mexican fucshia cochinil dye

delicate as butterfly wings unfolding

to meet the wind

the instinct to take flight 

disguised only barely

by her bone slivered quills 

poised to pierce flesh

most of the time she looks like she is in the throes 

of a slow death

her outspread arms

the cross of the agony she bears

but now arisen 

she stands transfigured 

having grown into her turgid green flesh

longing to burst 

into the song of blossom and translucency

and still her spines flay open 

in a show of saintly radiance

announcing their luminous threat

shining in the sunlight

poised… 

—Lorena Wolfman