Indian pipes rise ghostly
from ancient compost
of needled tears shed
white bells corpse-silent
shunning Light’s vital touch
sleeping instead in symbiotic beds
of gracious hosts, who in turn
kiss the feet of living Giants
lushly burning gilded rays
to fuel their green economy
*Monotropa uniflora*, commonly known as Indian pipe, ghost, or corpse plant, are herbaceous, perennial plants that grow at the base of trees in dense forests with very little sunlight. They feed off fungi that live symbiotically in the roots of trees. A tree’s ability to photosynthesize fuels this small triangle community.
I know – I’m odd. I find these things fascinating. If you’ve never seen an Indian pipe, search it. They are rare and only bloom when conditions are perfectly humid, but when they pop up there is an otherworldliness to them. I’m on a nostalgic mental tour of the flora and fauna of my childhood home and these came to mind.
: )
