The Geranium by Theodore Roethke was published in 1966 in Roethke: Collected Poems bringing renewed interest to one of the great American writers of poetry. A friend brought this poem, and Roethke, to my attention one day when she quoted, “vitamins, water, and whatever.” The phrase stuck in my mind, and I have loved this poem ever since.

You can read more about Roethke at the Poetry Foundation.