For some reason, all unreasoning, I love stripes in nature and in the built world. Zebras are my favorite animals. So when I discovered this Zebra iris, oh, perhaps five years ago, I bought some for our garden. Some years they bloom, but even on off years, I cheer the emergence of their dark- and light-green stripes. Someday, I will find that perfect-to-me unicorn, the iris with black and white striped blooms. Meanwhile, I will enjoy such chance encounters with zebra skies (in my back garden last evening) and in the garden of someone who lives near the Minneapolis Institute of Art. I also read and re-read a favorite poem by Gerard Manly Hopkins, “Pied Beauty,” whose immortal lines I am sure you know:
Glory be to God for dappled things--
For skies of couple-color as a brinded cow....
For this botanical term, I also went off-road from Rosendahl’s glossary, since I had a “Z” inspiration near to hand.
Looking Back: After I wrote the poem, “Rhubarb,” on April 18th, Tim told me that “rhubarb” is not only a plant but also a baseball term! Does everyone else know that? It means a dust-up between players, fans, and umpires–think “ruckus,” “heated disagreement” or even “fisticuffs!” I wonder why the connection to “rhubarb”? Perhaps something sharp “barb” that one regrets (or “rues”)? If anyone knows the etymology, please let me know.
Looking Ahead: During the next four days in April, the last of this year’s Poem-a-Day Challenge, I part company with Rosendahl’s generative glossary. Look forward to (or look out for!) four Wild Card poems.
