In the stamen, in the innermost parts

where the bees come, where the fly

is attracted, I am attracted. Attracted

to this life giving power that begets children

all at once - they give and they get - life 

for the bee colony and life for the plant. I give

and I get - not from the places I would

always suspect. Not from lover, not from

children not from mother. But from a place 

of strangers, client, dog, ocean - and the bark

of that Eucalyptus tree that I press my

nose against many many days, over the years

 and the tree stands strong, still. There. She is

there when everything else is in flux and 

moving around. I appreciate the sureness of

a tree and how my forehead fits into the 

well worn patch of bark - how my kiss

of her skin is as passionate as any

lips - and then gaze up at her strong

limbs. You were once a seed, a sapling.

Something no one noticed. But now there

you are and I notice you - like the 

bee notices flowers because it must 

like the every day magic we all

need to conduct our lives

fruitfully.