As for the aspidistra, let us note
the shields the leaves resemble are the shields
of southern Africa, shaped like a boat
designed for speed. The aspidistra yields
to none in hardiness. A plant is passed
to heirs to nurture or neglect, and lives
through generations. Aspidistras last
while peers get winnowed out in many sieves.
Just follow one leaf edge, its grand ellipse
the orbit of a comet round the sun,
a comet so far-flung it almost slips
away, but then resumes first trial run,
its point of origin smoothed everywhere
along its course, and deeply greening there.