hanging out with plants

 i learned a little about an herbarium late tuesday afternoon
 and biology museums
 the work of many many students
 for many classes over many years.
some, like this, retained brilliant color
but weren't even mounted.
 deep woods
 i remember "discovering" indian pipe 
in the early 1980's
and dyeing with it
a stack of walks
pressed memories, 
assignments,
i felt sad all the same.
and excited by the learning.