Sweet Thief

I saw this unusual group of flowers during one of my annual solitary camping trips. I initially thought they were some type of mushroom, but when I got home and looked it up I found that they are actually a parasitic plant that goes by the name of Indian Pipe. The plant grows in “rich, shady woods” according to my wildflower guidebook.

I started thinkin’ about parasitic plants. “They’re sort of like vampires of the plant world.” I said to myself. Then I got to wondering how the host tree feels about having its life essence sucked out of it to produce such a lovely and rare flower..... If a tree wrote a poem about the experience, what would it be like?

Like this, maybe:

Oh, delicate and pale one,
I cannot bring myself to shun
Your presence on the ground below,

I can’t despise you even though
You violate
You take
You steal-
Oh, do not think I cannot feel

Your light and loving tendril’s touch
Exquisite
Hungry
Leaving such

A tickling thrill within my veins
A chorus of winsome sweet refrains
Sings of how I’m richly paid

In frail, white flowers’ charms display’d
And rapture swells my wooden heart
That in their bloom I have a part.