A Crime Against Nature

I was just having fun with this…written when I had wild Canada lilies in my orchard, and later, Duchess of Albany clematis in my garden

A Crime Against Nature

There was no moon. The dark was a cover.
Clematis texensis climbed down from her fence
To twine into Lilium canadense—
She said, “Deep red are the blooms of my lover.

“Their secret depths I long to find…”
But her friend, Anemone hupehensis,
Cried, “Stop! Duchess, you must end this
And just consort with your own kind!”

The vine, in her passion, would not heed.
“This lily has flowers all spotted and red,
and I’ve never seen anthers so big!” she said.
Anemone answered, “Think of your seed!”

“And, much as I hate to say it aloud,
It’s the truth. Duchess, you’re high-bred,
While he is just—a weed,” she said.
The vine blushed green. The lily, proud,

Declared, “I’m in the best of gardens.
I’m choice. I’m hard to grow. I’m rare.
If truth you want, and to be fair,
I think that you should beg my pardon.”

Anemone twitched away from the lily.
“Duchess,” she sniffed, “do as you please.
But a lady waits for the messenger bees.”
Clematis said, “Who’s looking? That’s just silly.”

There was a rumble and then a flash.
Lightning struck that darkened garden.
Where once the lily and vine had been,
Now there was only a handful of ash.

Elsewhere there may be plants depraved
Enough to follow the lusts of their senses,
Forsaking the partners by nature intended.
But in that garden, they all behave.