Lady Slippers

© Elizabeth Larrabee

Long before "Greenpeace"

and "Save the Whale"

My Grandpa Withee told me

Never, never pick the

Lady Slippers!

The rare plant was endangered

but the way Grandpa

expressed himself,

it sounded to my tender ears like:

"If you DARE touch those flowers,

young lady, you'll have to

answer to Sheriff Grimes.

Then to GOD!"

So when I skipped along

the trillium-lined paths

among the pines in the deep woods

and came upon the delicate pink pod

I tread softly,

reverently limiting my glance

as if just looking might somehow

diminish the world's bouquet.

© Elizabeth Larrabee

Earliest Recall | Lady Slippers | How Poor Were We? | Free Food

The Smaller The Bigger | Mud Flats | Speaking of Smells | Random Pieces

Growing Up the Hard Way  | No Bogey Man | Green Apples | Poor Buster

Up and Down | True Friends | Moving | Rosie's Hangout | Crystal Ball

You weren't so Hot After All | Haunts | On Acting the Way You Feel | Amen

E-Mail Liz Larrabee