frugal, ingenious mama

we see so little of the intricate interconnectedness of Nature

wrangled gold, red, orange, even blue

from green, hard-working leaves

chemical plants that produce, as waste

what we vitally need to breathe

how frugal Mother Nature is

surplus from one of Her species

giving life to another

yet, as we inhale to gasp at her beauty

we ignore Her life-sustaining labor

long may She forgive us