Midwest Mary

The Patience of Nature

Nothing can surpass
the patience of nature
in creating its magnificent
works of art buried underground
in extraordinary, elaborate cave décor,
masterpieces that form over millions of years.
Drop after drop of
calcium carbonate water
build one on top of another,
taking from 50 to 150 years
to complete one cubic centimeter
of colorful patterned cave onyx
materializing into
magnificent structures
waving across the walls,
dripping from the ceiling,
and growing up from the ground
in reds, blues, black, browns, and white.

—-

(Cave of the Mounds, Blue Mound, WI)

©2023, Mary K. Doyle