FORGOTTEN PLANT

[MARC SELSBY]

 

 

MALVA NEGLECTA, TINY FLOWERED PLANT

YOUR CRINKLED LEAVES JUST A STAIRWAY FOR AN ANT

DO YOU THINK YOU’RE IN PARTIAL FOREST SHADE?

OR DO YOU KNOW THAT PARK BENCH IS MAN MADE?.

 

DISCOVERED BY A GERMAN BOTANIST

HE KNEW THAT WE WOULD SURELY NEGLECT IT

RELATIVE OF THE  HIBISCUS AND HOLLYHOCK SO TALL

YOU’RE STILL A MALLOW -  OVERALL.

 

LITTLE WE SEE IN A PLANT LIKE THIS

IT COVERS THE GROUND AND DOES PHOTOSYNTHESIS

TO GARDENERS IT’S A WEEDY MENACE

BUT THOSE ARE PEOPLE WHO ONLY EAT LETTUCE

 

ALTHOUGH THIS PLANT INSPIRES NO OUTRAGEOUS ORATORY

IT IS DISTINCTLY ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

THIS WAS ALWAYS KNOWN TO BE

BY IROQUOIS AND CHEROKEE

 

AND HIKERS THERE ARE WHO STILL GIVE A HOOT

BECAUSE THIS LITTLE PLANT PRODUCES A WONDERFUL FRUIT

THE FRUIT IS A BUTTON, CUT UP LIKE A CHEESE

OUT ON THE TRAIL IT’S SURE TO PLEASE.

 

THE BEST THING IS YOU CAN EAT THEM ALL DAY

AND STILL BE HUNGRY WHEN YOU WALK AWAY.

ON A LAWN, NEAR A BROOK, BY A TREE

MALVA NEGLECTA – YOU’LL NEVER BE ORDINARY TO ME.