This National Poetry Month I decided to write [or work on] a poem every day. Unfortunately, April began yesterday–a Friday, the day of the week when I have so little energy and brain-power left that it’s probably best I sleep the day away. Thanks to the assistance of NaPoWriMo: 30 Poems in 30 Days, I was able to scrape up a few brain cells for the short poem below.
The blog provides inspiration and daily prompts throughout the month. I chose one of four or five Emily Dickinson lines offered as prompts for the day. [Note: NaPoWriMo is short for National Poetry Writing Month].
The line I chose, “To be a flower is profound responsibility” comes from Emily Dickinson’s Poem 1058. I quickly scribbled the poem during a “screen break” and then took a short walk to the tulips where I captured the purple one above. Both provide the perfect close to our undeclared “purple flower week” on the blog.
Here’s my poem. I consider it a “work-in-progress,” so your feedback is welcome.
To Be a Flower | Chandra Lynn
To be a flower is profound responsibility–
Planted firmly against the wind
dressed and made up
beautifully
on its worst days
forever in oxymoron:
expected to simultaneously
cheer the wounded and broken
and celebrate the joyous, victorious, the proud.
To be a flower is profound responsibility–
trained to bear the weight of a brief elegance
with unaffected majesty. –CTM 04.01.22
In case you’re interested, here’s Dickinson’s poem. Thanks to my friend Cy for finding it for me today.
Poem 1058 | Emily Dickinson
Bloom—is Result—to meet a Flower
And casually glance
Would scarcely cause one to suspect
The minor Circumstance
Assisting in the Bright Affair
So intricately done
Then offered as a Butterfly
To the Meridian—
To pack the Bud—oppose the Worm—
Obtain its right of Dew—
Adjust the Heat—elude the Wind—
Escape the prowling Bee
Great Nature not to disappoint
Awaiting Her that Day—
To be a Flower, is profound
Responsibility—
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Beautifully inspired, and with each successive reading the more it reveals, thanks for including the Emily Dickinson poem as well. I think you just keep going and listen to the intuitive nudges that successive reading and observation brings. And then you’ll go back and fine tune it, but the essence us already there. 🌸
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Thank you! Yes, it has been tweaked, untweaked, and tweaked again. LOL! Thanks so much for the encouragement!
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Beautiful! Thank you Chandra 🙂
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Thank you,Sheila! I hope you’re all better.
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts and lovely poem!!.. I think I would like to be a dandelion.. 🙂
Will to Live
I think of all things that show a zest
For life, the dandelion beats the rest.
The little winged seeds from its white fluff ball
Settle and grow with no urging at all.
Settle in most unlikely places
And soon there’s a crop of dandelion faces.
They are man’s worst pest, but a child’s playthings.
Sometimes I wish I had light down wings
Like a dandelion seed, and could settle at will
On a velvety lawn or a sun-spread hill,
And live with the eagerness and zest
Of the wanton little dandelion pest.
-MARY TRIPLETT
Until we meet again..
May the love that you give
Always return to you,
That family and friends are many
And always remain true,
May your mind only know peace
No suffering or strife,
May your heart only know love and happiness
On your journey through life.
(Larry “Dutch” Woller)
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Dandelions are soooo cool! I love them! Thank you so much for dropping in and again sharing beautiful poetry with me!
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