could a cacti wish it was less prickly?
that we are utterly alone is as obvious as consciousness
but does the journey need to be so solitary,
when there are so many of so alike?
if there is a lighter, or at least a healthier place to be reaching
together
is it so helpful to cultivate being such thorny creatures?
a billion barbs to quickly inflict outwardly
inwardly

human cacti
many points to get past, clearly
we’re a funny lot, an odd species
grasping for toe-holds on our spinning rock
baking in the light, the sun

but, by God, when we flower…