Plant Observation
Transcribed from quotes by Zoe Schlanger about her book THE LIGHT EATERS from NPR Radio Interview, 7/3/24
1.
Basically, mechanistic plants grow
towards light with no control central—“brains”
amorphously spread
through their entire bodies
each cell shot with invisible electricity she said,
“shadows cast in a field” (Too poetic,
pseudo-scientific?
Too flamboyant? Does she talk
to her plants?) Some do
experience sound
and respond to
an attack by a caterpillar: no words just
reaction to vibration
2.
Recognize you’re in relation
to a plant a table the stars
In Finland ground level ozone compounds
plant capacity affecting
the web of being—
one plant mimicking the one next
door its unique way of climbing a fence,
the hard spike on a leaf as shocking
as a human growing a rhinoceros tusk
as amazing as even more photoreceptors on leaves
than on human eyes
3.
But how to integrate without
central intelligence? Clearly
plant receptors are affected by microbiome
around them Yes, green flexibility beyond
human perception No pain, yet
pinching a leaf lights up the room
from one point to the entire vein system;
the whole plant knows with neither
pain nor nerves—
receptors simply deal with attack
rally to survive
4.
Oh, they give so much to humans, younger brothers and sisters
on the planet depending on plant food while
vegetation simply thrives on sun soil water
“Volunteers” creep through windows compete
for space AND cooperate and there’s “companion
planting:” some like being together
with their kin a special family
versus outsider plants so nature develops
community even as carnivorous plants
dance with prey and allies
5.
Let’s shine light on co-evolution:
orchids fooling wasps tomato plants pumping
chemicals into leaves sometimes that push caterpillars
toward cannibalism to maintain balance in one
environment with perfect timing—Yes, millions of years
forming symbiotic relationships amid human destruction
even as an apple is meant to be eaten to spread seeds
respectfully generously minimizing damage
the violence of human hunger
6.
Sitting in front of a corn plant
a scientist saw chromosomes jump
by simply watching perhaps it’s enough
to leave room for curiosity bloomed from
seeing weed shrub grass tree
as aliens not through mystic nor scientific eyes
but by simple bowing
to seeds greenery growing
with us
CLAIRE BLOTTER has published three chapbooks, and most recently, her poetry collection, Expanding.Water.Ways. Read more.