Flora's Forest Treasure

Was but a shrub, clinging to rocky hill..
when first I strayed in forest aflower.
Er'nt son's return to rose and whippoorwill,
and brook's water glider mossy bower.

Below..,seventeen years cicadas dwelt..
nymphs now grown, sing familiar forest song.
Aligned to moon and stars in homage knelt,
nature's way to right all ruin and wrong.

Seeds are sewn, winds of change how quickly blown, 
tree lay down, bough's dream lost coveted cloud.
Heavens soaring branched crown no longer known,
once gloried sunlight, now in earthly shroud.

When last Spring returns Autumn's bounty owed,
the treasured forests Flora wisely sowed.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2020



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Date: 7/12/2020 1:40:00 AM
Shades of Shakespheare and a bit of Coleridge; if you ask me. But what do I know? I always thought if you had a Flora you had to also have Fauna. Nicely done.
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Date: 7/4/2020 8:35:00 PM
Hey, there, happy 4th to you as well. My mom is in town and I don't have time to see many poems and leave comments today, so I will hopefully see a new poem of yours soon. Have a great weekend, my friend.
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Date: 6/14/2020 8:54:00 PM
Beautiful sonnet. The life cycle of cicadas is fascinating.
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Theraven Avatar
Quoth Theraven
Date: 7/8/2021 9:18:00 PM
Juliet, Thanks, the cicadas returned again with an oh so familiar song. -Richard
Date: 6/13/2020 8:06:00 PM
So lovely! I really love that idea of it being but a shrub on a hill!
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Quoth Theraven
Date: 7/8/2021 9:17:00 PM
Hello Andrea, Thanks. Roots go deep for the shrub to hang on. -Richard
Date: 6/8/2020 9:42:00 PM
Most profound expressions of your deep thoughts. A great, great piece!
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Theraven Avatar
Quoth Theraven
Date: 6/14/2020 12:16:00 AM
Good evening, Thank you for that comment Funom. Profound? hmm..interesting musing my friend. More as thought like a plastic bag caught in the wind. -Richard
Date: 6/5/2020 12:42:00 PM
A wonderful sonnet with a mystery of the cicadas return. Blessings Richard. xxoo
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Quoth Theraven
Date: 6/14/2020 12:05:00 AM
Connie, Thank you for dropping by and leaving a reply. The long life of the Cicada a blessing in a wondrous disguise(?) -Richard
Date: 6/4/2020 11:15:00 PM
A beautiful sonnet, Richard. I read your reply to Silent below. Understanding the symbolism, gives the poem a greater depth. I'm glad I read the comment. Thank you for sharing...hugs, Rhonda
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Theraven Avatar
Quoth Theraven
Date: 6/5/2020 11:03:00 AM
Hello Rhonda, Thank you for taking the time to read and understand. Rare for me to explain a verse. And maybe best left a mystery for the reader to discover. Hope you enjoy the Strawberry moon tonight. -Richard
Date: 5/31/2020 7:40:00 PM
G'day Richard … to observe and take in natures little things that many overlook and write a great sonnet about it is a treasure also. Two things nature rarely has is a straight line or a vacuum - thank you Richard - Lindsay
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Quoth Theraven
Date: 6/5/2020 10:58:00 AM
Lindsay, Thank you for the comments. I'm still looking for the straight lines of nature. The lack of vacuum is another interesting observation. Thankfully, Fibonacci and his spiral are well represented. And one of my favorite inspirations. -Richard
Date: 5/29/2020 2:24:00 PM
You are close to Nature and know many of her secrets, Richard - the seven periodical cicadas being one of them. Spring comes back to life, thanks to autumn's sacrifices. ~ Regards // paul
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Quoth Theraven
Date: 6/5/2020 10:53:00 AM
Paul, Thanks for stopping by. Yes, unraveling the secrets. I used to be scared of cicadas, locusts, and praying mantis'. Isn't that silly? I hope you get to see tonight's Strawberry moon. -Richard
Date: 5/26/2020 11:16:00 PM
Such a beautiful sonnet. Very much enjoyed and a fave for me.
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Quoth Theraven
Date: 6/5/2020 10:18:00 AM
Hello Evelyn, Thank you for the comment. I just read your poem 'In Fragrant Mists'. Like to visit those halls one day. -Richard
Date: 5/26/2020 5:47:00 AM
thank you for the lesson Richard..
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Date: 5/25/2020 6:21:00 PM
Thank you for this magical poem it was a joy to read ...
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Theraven Avatar
Quoth Theraven
Date: 5/25/2020 9:34:00 PM
Very welcome Shirley, Thank you for that joyful comment. They're due to return next year in the East, the Cicadas. -Richard
Date: 5/25/2020 5:09:00 PM
There is a deeper meaning to this one... Profound poetry...
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Theraven Avatar
Quoth Theraven
Date: 5/25/2020 9:31:00 PM
Silent One, Perhaps, a little symbolism? Flora; Roman goddess of flowers, fertility, and springtime. 'Cicadas, once human allowed the first Muses to enchant them into singing and dancing for so long they stopped eating and sleeping and died without noticing. The Muses rewarded them with the gift of never needing food or sleep, but to sing from birth to death.' Socrates - Myth of the Cicadas
Date: 5/25/2020 10:35:00 AM
I love this beautiful poem. Well written Richard! I hope all is well :)
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Theraven Avatar
Quoth Theraven
Date: 5/25/2020 2:28:00 PM
Happy Monday Heidi. Thanks for stopping by. Can you see the the crowns of the forest? You can looking down from the mountains. -Richard
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