Agaves are iconic flora of the American southwest. Some, such as this, are especially unique because of their beautiful growth patterns. The leaves spread outward toward all points of the compass as if by conscious design. As each leaf reflects the light differently, so too are the two leaves in the foreground imperfect reflections of one another. The way in which the light in this photograph was captured also creates the illusion that this could be an etching. The brush-stroked texture, the shades and grains within each individual leaf, and the tonal variations between the leaves speak of an artist’s inspired and skillful hand. And yet the reality of this photograph is a reminder of the perpetual poetry of nature, writing verses of beauty unparalleled by man.