Cactus In the middle of the desert, a top a cactus tower Grows a bud, swelling larger, soon to be a flower No one but me sees the beauty, of the desert tree In the blistering sun, only i, foresee the fantasy In the unforgiving heat, thunder heads spread and grow Driving rain falls, a rare event, in this land i know The tower of spines drinks, water stores have been low Until it is heavy with liquid, should it dare to grow? Later, when the sun has slid over the low desert hills Only then does this giant show it's beautiful frills The buds open, slowly one by one, fragrant and sweet Growing heavy with nectar, calling night fliers to meet Their leathery wings, flutter in the icy star light Their tongues probe the blossoms sweet inner delight Again and again, they visit, tongues lapping nectars sweet fire The cactus stands immobile, unable to show its sated desire When the sun rises on another day hot and much dryer The cactus blooms enclose the gift, brought by the night flier The fliers have delivered life, begun anew in the flower The cactus has given its juices, pure and sweet, atop it's tower Both have benefited from this exchange, mindless passions sated Can anyone expect as much, from friends or lovers, we have mated? Michael Hissom