Illawarra Flame: A Tree on Fire

Illawarra Flame: A Tree on Fire 20-12-07

The Illawarra Flame beyond my window has lost much of its flowers.

The fallen bright red petals rest like confetti on a sidewalk surrounding its bride. Maybe, this fall of flowers signals the time, the moment, the period and passing of some kind of marriage.

I cannot help but think that there is more to this tree than meets the eye. And I wonder if this tree has not designed the fall of its confetti in this way to attract something, or someone, bird, insect or other, to increase the likelihood of its pollination and thus its fertility?

The bright red petals she wears like lipstick, or are these red petals below and remaining her red blouse she wears to gain attention, arousal and attraction?

Her trunk and leafy body is green, and her petals, like painted finger-nails (bright red) tell us she is not to be so easily dismissed. She is on fire.

I wonder what the platanus men that surround her think? They have nothing but their coloured bark to compare, and their leafy eyes look on.

And periodically, when a breeze of wind allows it, their leafy torso their branches, arms and extended hands reach out, they touch and momentarily as lovers, they embrace.