The flower of day and night; Pentagon Cactus


Composed by Benjamin Park



Can a new born hedgehog be as cute and wonderful as this?

I still do not know the name of the cactus.

Thorns appear sparsely along her body like a well grown catkin.

It’s shaped like a pentagon while budding but changes shape, attaining military service like honor for the flower.

I named it for that reason.

It looks like someone pasted a starfish onto the cactus along with
five pentagon-shaped petals.

It really looks like a military officer’s uniform.

It’s unbelievable how and from what genes caused the flower
to show such a unique shape.

In general, cacti bloom after long days.

It usually only shows its beauty for a few days.

This cactus was different from other cacti.

It flowered for six days and nights before they hurry
away, gone without words.

I can see it vividly now.

Perhaps people see plants and other people in similar way.

The prejudice of people does not change easily.

I have often heard that I am not an easy person to talk to.

Perhaps they said so because I am a man of few words, and their impression of me reflected such.

I act as if I have nothing to brag about.

Furthermore, I do not have a silver tongue.

People tell me I am different from their first impression.

I do not know how I should react to their feelings.

We are living in this rapidly changing age of fashion.

The word ‘pretty’ is far less meaningful than ‘splendor’ or ‘beautiful'.

The catctus’ flower might not be as ‘pretty’ as other popular flowers, but it bears the beauty of classics.

Perhaps the cactus has an inner wall that resists against the temptation of popularity.
Aren’t we always practicing caprice as the proper way to live?

We cannot abandon classical way of belief as an old idea.

Classical ideas always went ahead far beyond the age by pushing onward keeping their eyes fixed and straight.