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CATHERINE HENLEY ERICKSON

Name Each Flower

the Dr. Seuss one, osteospermum,
purple with spooned petals,
round edges on its arms,
like tiny gumdrops,
or new Dippin’ Dots,
plum or concord grape

they survive a period of drought
in sleep mode,
but may abort their flower buds
coming back into flower
with great difficulty

they tolerate poor soil
but do not set seed easily

yet in a warm and sunny position
they may have a second flush of flowers

Catherine Henley-Erickson is a long-time resident of the San Gabriel valley. She is Professor of English Emerita at the University of La Verne, where she taught all kinds of composition, including a specialty in creative writing. She earned her undergraduate degree in English from Mills College and her MFA in poetry from UC Irvine. Her poetry has appeared in numerous publications, including Beyond Baroque, The Cimarron Review, and the anthology Contemporary Women Poets. She was recently named La Verne's first Poet Laureate.
© 2008 University of La Verne