Hibiscus

The red hibiscus, unfolding, In the bright sunlight, its petals, Like a flamboyant ice, fresh and bright, Curving exquisitely at the edges, It whispers of the calyx in tranquil, leafy repose, Reflecting upon summer’s verdant dream, A tropical garden of earthly delights, Where the winds strove in rampant colors. Each bloom, a fluttering charm of allure.

• Marianne Moore