Who knew cotton
is of the genus Gossypium
in the mallow family
Malvacea

and who knew
we would one day,
use millions of swabs
made of this lovely fibre

is this who we are then,
can we fully admit now
that we plant seeds to harvest
for sterile supplies
to incinerate later

isn’t it strange how patterns
in some flower petals
look like flames,
if you look closely 

so where are we now then,
this strange waiting place
standing by our windows,
a sinking feeling slipping in 

is this how the plant feels
when her feet touch
the bottom of her pot—
tenderly feels around,
knows there is nowhere to go

Kelly Madden writes poetry, fiction and children’s stories. Her work has appeared in anthologies, Reckoning 2 and 4, Tending the Fire - League of Canadian Poets, Poetry Pause, Fresh Voices, Island Writer’s Magazine and elsewhere.