Dan Campion

The Aspidistra

                              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.