Funny－to be a Century－¹
And see the People－going by－
I－should die of the Oddity－
But then－I'm not so staid－as He－

He keeps His Secrets safely－very－⁵
Were He to tell－extremely sorry
This Bashful Globe of Ours would be－
So dainty of Publicity－

(F.677/J.345)

[1] Century:: century-plant (agave or American Aloe), named for its rare flowering.
[3] die of:: to desire exceedingly for its blooming.
[4] staid:: grave, sedate, a description of its rosette leaves.
[5] His Secrets safely:: its bulb protected by rosette leaves.
[6] sorry:: sword-like shape of its leaves.
[7] Bashful Globe:: the bulb of agave bashfully hidden under the earth.
[8] dainty:: it's edible and used to distill tequila.