california poppies

solitary on long stems;
four fans neatly coiled
inside the pointed elf cap of the flower bud --
soon to be pushed off by expanding petals
leaving behind at the base
a pink ring.

entire hillsides along the coasts of california
were washed in reflected sunlight
from satin orange-gold blossoms
rising out of blue green carrot-like foliage,
causing russian mariners to exclaim
"This is the land of fire!"

the spanish called them:

copa de oro --
"cup of gold,"
harmonious with indian legend
that the gold in california comes
from fallen poppy petals.

and sometimes

dormidera --
"the drowsy one,"
when at dusk
petals fold in on themselves
and nearly disappear.

the day i married you
i held them nestled
in sweet alyssum;
dense clusters of tiny
snow-white flowers
cushioning each orange bloom.