UNCOMMON CENTS 95

"SOME SAY THE WORLD WILL END IN FIRE, SOME SAY IN ICE," TO RETURN TO THE ALTERNATIVE PRESENTED BY POET ROBERT FROST. SPRING GARDEN, SEED, FLOWER AND BULB CATALOGS HAVE ARRIVED. I LOOK INSIDE TO APPEALING DISPLAYS OF BRILLIANT COLORS LIT AS IF WITH INNER, BOTANICAL FIRES. PAGES OF PICTURES PRESENT A PROFUSION OF WHITE, PINK, YELLOW, ROSE, BLUE, RED, VIOLET, GOLD, MAUVE, BURGUNDY AND FIERY ORANGE SUPPORTED BY SHINY GREENS. I PICK MY FAVORITE FROM THE 'NEW' BLOOMS - A PURPLE PEOPLE EATER ANGEL TRUMPET. THIS WORLD ON FIRE WILL NEVER BE MINE.

I LOOK OUTSIDE, THIS VALENTINE'S DAY, TO THE BRILLIANCE OF A WORLD OF ICE, RADIANT WITH ITS OWN APPEAL. ICE SHAKES IN THE DAYLIGHT. ICE SPARKLES FOR 360 DEGREES. THIS SINGLE PAGE OUTDOORS IS FILLED WITH A PELLUCID, SHEER WHITENESS, FLECKED WITH FLURRIES OF SNOW, SUPPORTED BY NORTHERN ARCTIC WINDS. I CHOOSE TO STAND AMIDST A SUNLIT, CRACKLING, CRYSTAL FIRE. THE HAIR OF MY FAVORITE EVERGREEN HANGS LOW WITH DREADLOCKS COVERED WITH A HALF INCH OF ICE.

THE BRIGHT WORLD OF FIERY, FLORAL DISPLAYS WILL NEVER BE MINE. GARDEN PLANTS, FLOWERS AND BULBS I HAVE APPROPRIATED OVER TIME NEVER APPROXIMATE THEIR PICTORIAL REPRESENTATIONS. I FACE IT - THE WHITE WORLD OF MY ICY GARDEN, HERE TODAY, GONE ON SOME TOMORROW, OUTSHINES ANY WILD, COLORFUL DREAM.

HINT: HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY SURROUNDED BY FIRE; HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY ENCASED IN ICE.