Gregory Richard Barden Poet Lyric

Notes About The Poem

** I was SO honored and blessed to be asked to "jump in" on this collaboration project with my very talented and sweet friend, Andrea Dietrich ... this was a last-minute labor of joy! (She, the flower, and I, the hummingbird). **

The Flower and the Hummingbird

Not too long ago, and being so small,
                                                                  
          I knew of my purpose nothing at all.



                         ~     Oh, sweet little bud, how I yearned to be fed,
        
                                        Abiding long days, hoping petals would spread.



As cotton clouds cried and moistened my space,

          I bloomed forth in glory, sun warming my face!



                         ~     One illustrious morn, as my rounds had begun,

                                        Your petals yawned tenderly, kissed by the sun.



A beautiful bird with fast-flapping wings

          Is nourished by me; oh, how my heart sings!



                         ~     Now, dear one, don't fear me, as gently, I spin,

                                        For precious, the nectar, that sweetens within.



The reason my sisters and I sprang from earth -

          Sweet-scented and pink - I now KNOW! I have worth!



                         ~     Each sunrise we'll greet with harmonious song,

                                        Serenading the day ... until shadows grow long!





~ 1st Place ~  in the "Duets: I Shall Collaborate With You" Poetry Contest, James Edward Lee, Sr, Judge & Sponsor. Written by Andrea Dietrich, (the flower, left side), and Gregory R Barden, (the hummingbird, right side).

~ 2nd Place ~  in the "Collaboration - Grab A Writing Partner" Poetry Contest, Joseph May, Judge & Sponsor.

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Sandra Haight August 1, 2018 at 10:15 AM Congratulations, Greg, on your First Place win for this excellent collaboration with Andrea! Beautiful! :) Sandra Gregory Richard Barden August 2, 2018 at 7:21 PM That's very sweet of you, Sandra, and I so appreciate it! I would love to do a collab with you sometime ... I generally don't enjoy doing things that way, but this was fun, and I think our styles would mix well. Just a thought - blessings! :-) <3

Line Gauthier July 31, 2018 at 8:55 PM Lovely collaboration. Superbly done. Congrats on your gold medal win Gregory and Andrea. Gregory Richard Barden August 2, 2018 at 7:19 PM Many kind thanks to you, Line - so appreciated, my friend! :-) <3

Susan Gentry July 31, 2018 at 6:45 PM Congratulations! This should be 1st place. Gregory Richard Barden August 2, 2018 at 7:19 PM Thank you so much, Susan - blessings to you! :-) <3

Connie Marcum Wong July 30, 2018 at 4:34 PM Gosh Gregory....if you collaborated with Andrea who got First Place, your placement should reflect that top spot too! So, congratulations on both of your top wins! I loved this lovely piece! : ) Gregory Richard Barden August 2, 2018 at 7:17 PM Thank you so much, Connie, just an oversight on James' part, (I've done worse, lol), and the restrictions of the system provided ... perhaps PS will tweak to allow for it. Blessings! :-) <3

Eve Roper July 30, 2018 at 10:13 AM This is a beautiful piece, Gregory... Congratulations on your collaborating win. Hugs Eve Gregory Richard Barden July 31, 2018 at 9:11 PM I agree completely, Eve - there should be a format change to allow for that. I think I will suggest it to PS. Eve Roper July 30, 2018 at 8:23 PM I might be out of line, but I feel if one is going to do a collaboration both poems should be on the list. If you don't only one gets the credit for the win.. :( That is just my opinion. I don't think the sponsor realizes the dilemma. Gregory Richard Barden July 30, 2018 at 4:24 PM Thank you, Eve - certainly unusual results, that's for sure ... just an oversight, I think. :-) <3

Line Gauthier April 21, 2018 at 5:16 PM Belated congrats on your win with this fine collaborative poem, Gregory. Gregory Richard Barden April 22, 2018 at 1:24 AM Thank you so much, Line - it was fun working with Andrea. I hope we can do it again, (though neither one of us is big on collaborating, she's my buddy, and I think we do good work!). This was a joy! :-)

Jan Allison January 21, 2018 at 4:02 PM Many congrats on your win in the collaboration contest along with your wonderful talent partner Andrea:-) hugs jan xx Gregory Richard Barden January 22, 2018 at 7:19 PM That's very sweet of you, Jan ... thank you SO much! :-) <3

Arturo Michael January 21, 2018 at 12:35 PM This is wonderful...A beautiful poem in every way...All the best to both of you... Gregory Richard Barden January 22, 2018 at 7:18 PM Thank you so very much, Arturo - blessings, my friend! :-)

Joseph May January 21, 2018 at 4:58 AM Beautiful poem Greg..Congrats and thanks for entering the contest... Gregory Richard Barden January 21, 2018 at 6:49 AM Thank you so much, Joseph - I am honored and humbled to be on such an amazing winner's list, and so pleased you liked our collab! Blessings, friend! :-)

Andrea Dietrich January 20, 2018 at 7:31 PM Oh, and I LOVE how you found a unique and beautiful illustration to go with it. Gregory Richard Barden January 21, 2018 at 12:32 AM Thanks! I usually spend a good deal of time searching for photos that bring something to the piece, and I am a HUGE fan of watercolor, so this just "fit" for me. Both my mom and sis are watercolorists, (my sister does a lot of pastel, too - my mom EVERYthing, including sculpture - both have taught at HS and college level), my mom of some note, and I learned to appreciate art at an early age. I love this "loose" style, and I lean away from paintings that look like photos ... I appreciate the difficulty involved, but there isn't much creativity in just reproducing a photo with paint, IMHO, and I ADORE impressionism!

Andrea Dietrich January 20, 2018 at 7:30 PM Thanks so much for the note at the top. You were amazing to work with. You just took the ball and ran with it!! I could not have asked for a better partner to reply as my hummingbird!! Gregory Richard Barden January 21, 2018 at 12:25 AM Awww, Andrea, the pleasure was all mine - thank you so much for thinking of me and asking me to take part - this was fun, and we should do more sometime ... maybe something a bit more edgy! Blessings, my friend! :-) <3

Gershon Wolf January 20, 2018 at 6:37 PM Very enjoyable! Beautiful mixing of media! Gregory Richard Barden January 21, 2018 at 12:23 AM Thank you very much, Gershon ... blessings and peace to you, my friend - I'm glad you liked it!

Darlene De Beaulieu January 20, 2018 at 11:32 AM Gregory I enjoyed reading this poem,I like the humming bird. I think they are cute birds. Have a nice day my friend. Gregory Richard Barden January 21, 2018 at 12:21 AM Thank you so much, Darlene - I so appreciate the kind words, my friend! :-) <3