DAYLILIES

Corinne is plucking the wilted blossom heads
Of a hundred thousand [daylilies]. For hours
Each day she gathers up the fading flowers
To free the stalks for fuller myriads

Of blooms. The colors dazzle and entrance
With varied palettes of hues and shades and themes:
Yellows, saffrons, buffs and tigers, creams,
Roses, mauves, orangey reds, enhanced

By subtle stripes and streaks, and blended lines
Of brown or jet or purple, multiplying
Variation before our very eyes.
And down beneath the sod roots intertwine

Endless clusters of bulbs proliferating,
Promising more, patiently awaiting.

(36, July 25, 1992)

Comments

Humans have eye color receptor cells for red/green/blue. The brain translates the signals into the many colors we perceive.

Crocodiles have eyes that adapt to fresh versus salt water, see here. Cats work with two different color receptors, see here. The mantis shrimp has 12 to 16 different receptors, see here.

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