r/OCPoetry•8 yr. ago

Tulipmania

Feedback Received!

Tulipmania

Go ahead, look up tulip-breaking virus,

an infection that leaves the bulb impotent

in doing so some internal limitation shatters

and color blossoms recursively, as petals within petals.

You probably know this already,

you looked it up.

I am most attracted to varieties of infected tulips

whose petals are grotesque and ingrown,

the grandchildren of more lovely bulbs

colored like some fantastic beast with stripes white and deep red.

You also know that this is

sometimes called a Mosaic virus.

Tomorrow will be Sukkot

and ancient tradition asks a Jew to take four species,

myrtle, citron, willow and a lulav,

clasp them as one and give a good healthy shake while praying.

Sheepishly I explain to my students

why tomorrow their worksheets will come from a substitute,

I always begin with the four species

before remembering how hard it is to explain.

In 1637 the Low Countries fell for tulips

in particular those ignited by the Mosaic virus

plucked from a doomed lineage

speculation in tulip futures emerged

they didn’t yet know from viruses and

after the madness, the futures

no longer held value.

I’m in search of that good healthy shake

something short of mania

that won’t consume me.

Posted Sep 30, 2018, 1:48 AM UTC