Simon West: Seed Eyes 1

Nomina sunt consequentia rerum

More than the dandelion these banksia
leaves could be prickly as lions' teeth.
But what name might reflect a tree
whose flowers are stiff as fossils
with pistils you could blow
to judgement day: no pappus globe
is going to dissolve and take flight
in a thousand directions, or germinate
a thousand dreams.
No, too full of sap to forget
the turning sun, this banksia is less
transient than any season's weeds.