Don't tell me we're not like plants，

    sending out a shoot when we need to，

    or spikes¹， poisonous oils， or flowers.

    Come to me but only when I say，

    that's how plants announce

    the rules of propagation.

    Even children know this. You can

    see them imitating all the moves

    with their bright plastic toys.

    So that， years later， at the moment

    the girl's body finally says yes

    to the end of childhood，

    a green pail with an orange shovel²

    will appear in her mind like a tropical

    blossom she has never seen before.