A Lifetime of Geraniums

Poet's Notes
(Show)

Become a Premium Member and post notes and photos about your poem like Tania Kitchin.


Geraniums have always been my favorite flowering plant,
with their vibrant burst of colors with warm spicy fragrant scents.
Nostalgic memories of going to my Grandmother’s house in Spring.
Sitting on her sunny porch, her smile as bright as her crimson flowers.

Her house greeted me with scents of fresh brewed coffee and banana bread. 
It was our secret that I could have big cups with cinnamon and whipped cream.
She loved to plant flowers and I often helped with her Spring plantings,
enjoying the feeling of my hands and fingers touching the moist, cool soil.

Years passed and my grandmother was buried in our family plot at the cemetery.
I would go there every Spring and plant a variety of red and pink geraniums,
with variegated green leaves, growing upward like hands reaching to the sky.
I admired their red and fuchsia blooms as spring birds sang their melodies.

Over the years I carried on the tradition of planting geraniums in antique urns. 
I would plant fuchsia, crimson, and coral colors with variegated leaves,
a peaceful escape from my horrible marriage and world falling apart around me.
I was soon left alone, life felt depressing, I felt lonely and drowning in despair.

I remember that Spring day, it was cold, crisp and windy, I decided to go out.
I admired the trees swaying, their resilient branches strong with tiny buds.
I went to the greenhouse, as I entered, I was greeted with warm, fragrant air.
I followed nostalgic scents to a greenhouse full of fresh geraniums in bloom.

Bright geraniums greeted me in reds, pinks and whites, with variegated leaves.
I felt my Grandmother’s presence, imagining her smiling at me, feeling happy.
I left with a car full of fresh geraniums and with a purpose, to start over.
It’s now time for new beginnings, my spirit feeling lighter, hopeful.

3/12/2021
Sponsor: Constance LaFrance
Contest: Flower or Flowers in Imagism Form

Copyright © | Year Posted 2021



Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 4/1/2021 4:08:00 AM
Beautiful words penned to a beautiful image Tania, full of great imagery and insightful thought too. Blessings,Gordon
Login to Reply
Kitchin Avatar
Tania Kitchin
Date: 4/1/2021 9:04:00 AM
Thank you Gordon!
Date: 3/19/2021 4:39:00 PM
Gorgeous poem, gorgeous flowers, Tania:-). I LOVED it. Heartiest congratulations on your deserving win!
Login to Reply
Kitchin Avatar
Tania Kitchin
Date: 3/20/2021 3:25:00 AM
Thank you Ed!
Date: 3/15/2021 10:50:00 PM
Great story, Tania, so well written. Congratulations on your win. Hugs Eve
Login to Reply
Kitchin Avatar
Tania Kitchin
Date: 3/16/2021 4:38:00 AM
Thank you Eve!
Date: 3/15/2021 9:01:00 AM
Tania, congratulations on your win in my Imagism Challenge on the theme of a flower or flowers, you wove a wonderful story around the imagery of Geraniums, a fav of mine too, it had emotion and love, well done _Constance
Login to Reply
Kitchin Avatar
Tania Kitchin
Date: 3/15/2021 11:28:00 AM
Thank you Constance!
Date: 3/15/2021 7:32:00 AM
Delightful images blossom in this poem, Tania. Lovely tribute as well to your grandmother. Much happiness in reflective words. BIG congrats on your win.
Login to Reply
Kitchin Avatar
Tania Kitchin
Date: 3/15/2021 11:28:00 AM
Thank you Vijay!
Date: 3/15/2021 2:56:00 AM
- Back to congratulate you on your win, Tania :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
Login to Reply
Kitchin Avatar
Tania Kitchin
Date: 3/15/2021 3:15:00 AM
Thank you Anne-Lise! hugs
Date: 3/14/2021 3:23:00 PM
It's so nice that you planted your grandmother's favorite flowers on her grave. And even better that having geraniums now makes you feel like she is with you. Beautiful, Tania. Congrats on your top win! Best wishes, Carolyn
Login to Reply
Kitchin Avatar
Tania Kitchin
Date: 3/14/2021 4:04:00 PM
Thank you Carolyn!
Date: 3/14/2021 2:23:00 PM
Dropping back to say many congrats on your win, the picture is beautiful too:-) hugs Jan xx
Login to Reply
Kitchin Avatar
Tania Kitchin
Date: 3/14/2021 3:11:00 PM
Thank you Jan! hugs
Date: 3/14/2021 6:04:00 AM
She must have been a wonderful lady! This is such a beautiful tribute to your Grandma, I'm sorry to hear you had a bad marriage but I'm glad to hear of your new beginning!
Login to Reply
Kitchin Avatar
Tania Kitchin
Date: 3/14/2021 8:26:00 AM
Thank you Mark, luckily my second marriage is wonderful, nothing like the first trial run. :)
Date: 3/12/2021 12:11:00 PM
what a super tribute to your grandmother my father also used to like them, got to say they are not my fave i dont like the smell lol:-) hugs Jan xx
Login to Reply
Kitchin Avatar
Tania Kitchin
Date: 3/12/2021 2:21:00 PM
Thank you Jan, that's funny because I love the smell of them! hugs
Date: 3/12/2021 11:48:00 AM
Such a lovely tribute to your grandmother. Geraniums seem to go with grandmothers. Mine kept two urns of them on her front steps during the summer. I loved this poem, Tania, and I think of you often, hoping you find comfort, joy, and peace in your life. Best wishes for the weekend and luck in the contest.
Login to Reply
Kitchin Avatar
Tania Kitchin
Date: 3/12/2021 2:21:00 PM
Thank you L.Milton, are you saying I am like a Grandmother?, lol :)
Date: 3/12/2021 10:25:00 AM
A beautiful tribute to your grandmothers memory Tania. Best of luck in the contest, hope you have a lovely weekend. Tom
Login to Reply
Kitchin Avatar
Tania Kitchin
Date: 3/12/2021 10:34:00 AM
Thank you Tom!
Date: 3/12/2021 9:14:00 AM
In Malta we grow many geraniums as they are adaptable to our climate. Your poem is excellent and you do well to honor your grand mother. A beautiful poem. Best for a win.
Login to Reply
Kitchin Avatar
Tania Kitchin
Date: 3/12/2021 9:50:00 AM
Thank you Victor, hugs.
Date: 3/12/2021 8:15:00 AM
- Your grandmother's soul is with you when you plant these beautiful geraniums, a wonderful poem Tania - Spring is not quite here yet ... but I look forward to planting in all my pots - Best wishes in the contest :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
Login to Reply
Kitchin Avatar
Tania Kitchin
Date: 3/12/2021 8:23:00 AM
Thank you Anne-Lise! hugs
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter