Rhoda and Phil-A Sad Goodbye

Florid hues of soft petaled flowers cast satin rose splashes of pastel colors that move within the cool morning shade, as the brilliance of the smiling sun reflects its warm beams of life from each delicate bud. Rhoda, so fragile, stands gazing for hours watching the stains as they dance in the shadows cast before her like captive souls of forgotten dreams, her lonely heart betrayed by a single wet stain left drying as the dew burns slow from the mud. The day advances past Phlox and Cornflowers when she spies him near, alone in the sun, a new friend she hopes yet he seems out of place, with exotic movements and hypnotic grace which stirs, anew, an emotional flood. "Phil," he says, his hand reaching for hers as smiling petals rim her lips, too quickly her heart is lost to new love, and together they enter a beautiful bliss, as she dreams of sharing his name, if she could. Time passes by into gentle warm showers, the golden rays peek through to dry each leaf, then their lonely shadows lengthen to one and together they revel in their new found love in the darkness of this lonely, bleak wood. Betoken breeze blows cold through the bowers as a cloud passes by and his shadow dissipates, Rhoda and Phil Odendron, she whispers their names, and she looks, and he's gone, and her poor heart breaks past the smiles, past love, he's now gone for good.
06/14/2017
Copyright © | Year Posted 2017


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: 10/9/2017 5:49:00 PM
Oh I see how clever this is. I believe there are some plants that have names which would be the same as putting their first names together with Odendron!! So impressive. I really like this metaphorical poem of yours, Ralph. You are amazingly poetic!! Send me a list of any others I have not seen for me to keep on hand. Not now, but when I have time, I will give you a list of some of my very best!!
Login to Reply
Inman Avatar
James Inman
Date: 10/9/2017 7:17:00 PM
I will do that if I have anymore and please send me some of your favorites that you have written. Yes, I took a bit of liberty with Rhoda, it is actually Rhododendron (Azaleas are members of that family) and Philodendrons are tropical plants that have enormous leaves. Thank you Andrea.
Date: 10/9/2017 5:46:00 PM
Hmmm, I don't see Regina. Why is that in my mind? But I see this one that you probably wanted me to see. Let me read it now.
Login to Reply
Date: 7/11/2017 9:54:00 AM
Oh, I would never have guessed this was about plants, wonderful metaphor for lost love, James:) brilliant work:)
Login to Reply
Inman Avatar
James Inman
Date: 7/31/2017 6:53:00 PM
Sorry for the late response Jo, and thank you for the great comment. I'm a huge plant and flower fan.
Date: 6/14/2017 4:01:00 PM
Aww how sad for her :( a great write, James :)
Login to Reply
Inman Avatar
James Inman
Date: 6/15/2017 12:03:00 AM
Thank you Akkina. Yes a very sad situation.
Date: 6/14/2017 10:34:00 AM
Such a sad but endearing tale of two lovers that must part, tragic finality for us all, in due time. Were they people you knew?
Login to Reply
Inman Avatar
James Inman
Date: 6/14/2017 12:21:00 PM
Hi John, I knew someone who used to joke about rhododendron (azaleas) and philodendron, kind of as a metaphor for a relationship where they had nothing in common. One was from the tropics, the other from a temperate region. Recently, after many years, it ended.
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

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
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter