Ode to a Blossom

As I was standing knee-deep in the crystal clear water in the plunge pool below HuntFish Falls, I noticed a fallen rhododendron blossom floating past on its way toward the rapids beyond. Here was the bloom of the Catawba rhododendron, so recently on the shrub, illustrating great beauty and fertility only moments before. And now it was hurtling along toward destruction. Ah! The futility of life! The cycling and recycling of all that grows!

I was almost tempted to write a bad poem.

Instead, I feel that it's good to recall Percy Dovetonsils, the worst of the Earth's bad poets, creation of the late, lamented Ernie Kovacs.

Ah, Percy.
We hardly
knew Ye.