POETRY
Texas Highways
For the longest time
I confused blankets with paintbrushes
A misinformed misnomer, perhaps,
or maybe when my childhood question
was answered it was in passing
at speed, a blur of color
outside the window
in a spring green
well-seeded highway median
Myths and misunderstandings
are built this way
upon one wrong end of the stick
one small pinch of wildfire
mistaken for another
so what should be used for cover
is used to color fields instead
making fruitful pictures
out of old tall tales,
while their cousins
whose fame resounds across the state
so honored that everyone knows their name
just smile serenely and gaze up
at their reflection in the blue sky
Another true story! I had Indian Paintbrushes and Indian Blankets confused until maybe 2 or 3 years ago. Recently my daughter asked me about them and it brought my mistake back to mind, plus brought about this poem. More on the flowers:
https://texashighways.com/wildflowers/wildflowers-of-texas/
It’s been a beautiful wildflower season (and still going) in Texas this year!
Thank you, readers!
