Cholla at the Phoenix Botanical Garden,
Today’s word: CHOLLA (pronounced choy-ah)
Definition: a desert cactus native to northern Mexico. The spines will detach easily thus sometimes called jumping cholla.
beware when
walking the desert
cholla spines
jump like fleas
it’s an unwanted surprise
like an argument
© 2015 Jone Rush MacCulloch all rights reserved
Surprise is the word of the day at A Year of Reading.
Tomorrow’s word: Duckbill
Amy is hosting Poetry Friday today.
Jone Rush MacCulloch 
I love the ingenious way argument is described here as an unwanted surprise. Lovely. Hope you had a beautiful Easter celebration, Jone.
OVERSTEPPING BOUNDARIES
Cholla cactuses cling
Their unkempt nails
Into your world.
(c) Charles Waters 2015 all rights reserved.
Unkempt nails. What an image.
Jone, Like several others, I love the last two lines. Such a surprise and such a perfect metaphor! I’m going to think of this every time I shoo my dog away from the cactus plants in the next block! Or every time I get into an argument with someone!
I knew I’d seen these somewhere — thanks for reminding me of my walk in the Phoenix Botanical Gardens, Kay!
Love the last two lines! Whoa, where did that come from?
Jone, I thought the same thing. Thanks for the background information.
I’ve learned not to get too close when walking through the Phoenix Botanical Gardens. Ouch!
Thanks for teaching me what a cholla is. Like how you described its ouch. 🙂
Amy has it nailed as do you! Wonderful poem! Again, another new word for me! Can’t wait to share with kids!
I, too, love the part Amy quoted. I shall remember those words. Beautiful poem.
“It’s an unwanted surprise
like an argument”
What a perfect way to describe this feeling. I know it from plants we have here in the Northeast too, not jumping, but one touch and ouch!
Happy Poetry Friday, Jone! xo, a.