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The Walled Garden

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Originally published: 19th January 2021

Photo by gR

This poem was placed 1st in the "Garden Inspirations" contest sponsored by Bj Legros Kelley (Judged 22nd April 2022)

a bench with ornate arms and scrolling bathed in shards of early light inside four walls of climbing roses grown entwined and trained to height. within the silence of mid morning perfumed heat that melts the hours attracts the bees that prey and worship on life's purple passion flowers. the symmetry of formal hedging leads the eye in one straight line to where a sundial in the heat haze casts its shadow marking time. the joy and beauty of hibiscus flowering bright where no one goes down secret paths in secret corners where the scented jasmine grows.

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Sara Kendrick

Date: 4/7/2025 5:11:00 AM

Congratulations on your winning work in Brian's contest. Way to go. Thanks for sharing it with us. Sara K

Gary Radice
Date: 4/7/2025 11:46:00 AM

Hello Sara. I hadn't realized I was among the winners until I read your comments. Thank you for your comments and ongoing support. Cheers - Gary

thriveni c mysore

Date: 4/6/2025 1:37:00 AM

Some paths in the garden are better left untrodden for gardener's sake. After reading through your notes below, I reread the poem, marvelous. Reminded me of Rubaiyat's towers. Congratulations on your win dear poet. Cheers!!!

Gary Radice
Date: 4/7/2025 11:42:00 AM

Thank you thriveni. I will have to look up Rubaiyat's towers as I've not heard of this before. I appreciate your comments thanks again. Cheers - Gary

Susan Ashley

Date: 2/4/2024 5:25:00 PM

Dear Gary, I'm delighted to return to re-read your beautiful poem and to offer my heartiest congrats for your excellent win in Brian's contest. What a joy to read this gem again! A fav! Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Susan Ashley
Date: 2/9/2024 8:25:00 AM

Dear Gary, thank you for providing the background story for your amazing poem. I enjoy knowing about the inspiration and ambience behind this beautiful piece. The “four walls” contain and frame your metaphors beautifully. Discovering “secret paths and secret corners” is the spice of life! Many thanks for sharing your thoughts and your brilliant poetry.. ~Sue

Gary Radice
Date: 2/4/2024 10:25:00 PM

Thank you Susan for returning and for your lovely comments. Sitting in the walled garden at Dunham Massey in Cheshire, England and the weather that day wrote this poem. :) The four walls with the trained climbing roses along with the formal hedging and passion flowers represent the structures, formalities, rules, beliefs and regulations that surround us in life's garden. The bench in the poem represents our own comfort zone where many of us choose to stay (the easier option) rather than pushing ourselves to explore the joy and beauty of life's 'secret paths and secret corners' before time (represented by the sundial here) catches up with us. EDIT: I will add though that I think it works better as a simple poem about a walled garden. :) Cheers - Gary

Brian Sambourne

Date: 1/19/2024 6:54:00 PM

A true celebration of a garden's flourish and beauty. Each stanza has an image (or 2) explored, extended, and not piled on in one line after another. No poetic overload, here, but rather an image given weight in a full stanza. Congratulations on your placement, Gary. Be well. Brian

Gary Radice
Date: 1/20/2024 2:13:00 AM

Thanks Brian. I love your comments! Your description "a true celebration of a garden's flourish and beauty" is just wonderful. Thank You! :) Cheers - Gary

Susan Ashley

Date: 10/26/2022 4:50:00 PM

Dear Gary, your beautiful imagery and a lovely lyrical rhythm takes my heart’s imagination to an enchanting place. I just adore “perfumed heat that melts the hours” - a stroke of genius! Your brilliant artistry shines throughout this exquisite piece. Congratulations for your excellent win in Mark’s contest. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/28/2022 11:29:00 AM

Amen to that, my friend..

Gary Radice
Date: 10/28/2022 3:10:00 AM

Thank you Susan. I truly appreciate your lovely comments. I think the whole world could do with taking time out in a walled garden at the moment - just for the peace. Cheers - Gary

Arlo Parker

Date: 10/18/2022 1:02:00 AM

A lovely piece, Mr. Radice. Contest worthy. ~:o)

Gary Radice
Date: 10/18/2022 9:18:00 AM

Thank you Mr. Parker. Much appreciated. Cheers - Gary

John Watt

Date: 10/15/2022 6:37:00 PM

Gary, a very lovely description of a garden scene; it quiets the soul and delights the imagination. Your imagery and cadence are spot on and your creative phrasing brings a smile (I liked 'perfumed heat that melts the hours' and 'symmetry of formal hedging' the most) as did the Radicean pun of 'prey and worship'. Love it, and so proud of you for ongoing success in the marathon. Apologies for the lack of visits recently... life has been rather involved as of late. Cheers ~ John

Gary Radice
Date: 10/16/2022 3:00:00 AM

John, I can always count on your good self to spot a 'Radicean pun'. :) This is the highest any of my poems have got in the marathon, most run out of steam before the finish line but I have to say that I'm really enjoying the fun of it all. Hope to read you soon. Take care. Cheers - Gary

Brian Sambourne

Date: 10/13/2022 9:09:00 PM

Beautifully written, Gary. Your enticing garden invites reflection, thought, + a celebration of nature's grand splendor. Congratulations! Brian

Gary Radice
Date: 10/14/2022 12:26:00 PM

Thank you Brian! Mission Completed! :) Cheers - Gary

Mark Toney

Date: 10/13/2022 7:36:00 PM

Gary, this is a delight to read and visualize. I'm eager to continue "down the "secret paths in secret corners where the scented jasmine grows." Another stanza or two, perhaps? Congratulations on your podium finish on Mile 16 of my 2022 Poetry Marathon Contest. Keep your running shoes on, because Mile 17 has already started.

Gary Radice
Date: 10/14/2022 12:30:00 PM

Hi Mark! Much appreciated. I decided to keep as was and leave it up to the readers' imaginations. Thanks again for 'running' the marathon. I'm running out of poems to submit that have less than 30 lines though. :) Cheers - Gary

Ann Peck

Date: 4/26/2022 12:33:00 PM

Hi Gary! Another beautiful poem. "Perfumed heat that melts the hours..." so lovely. Congratulations on your win!

Gary Radice
Date: 4/27/2022 12:49:00 AM

Thank you Ann. I feel that line, in particular, captures the essence of a walled garden in the height of the summer heat. Glad you like it. Cheers - Gary

L. J. Carber

Date: 4/23/2022 7:14:00 AM

Congrats Gary--I especially liked the bit of mystery in the final stanza...

Gary Radice
Date: 4/23/2022 7:41:00 AM

Thank you L J. for your valued comment. Cheers - Gary

Greg Gaul

Date: 4/21/2022 4:47:00 PM

Gary, your descriptive imagery talents stand out here in this piece. I especially liked the first stanza and the trained reference in its last line. I look forward to reading more of your works. Your creativity is admirable. Thanks for your time and commentary.

Gary Radice
Date: 4/22/2022 11:57:00 AM

Thanks Greg. Much appreciated. The four walls with the trained climbing roses is a (somewhat obscure) metaphor of mine (along with the formal hedging and passion flowers) for the structures, formalities, rules, beliefs and regulations that surround us in life's garden. I'll add that the bench in the poem represents our own comfort zone where many of us choose to stay (where it's peaceful and hassle free) rather than pushing ourselves to explore the joy and beauty of life's 'secret paths and secret corners' before time catches up with us. Of course, it's just a nice walled garden too. :) Cheers - Gary

Sam Kauffman

Date: 4/21/2022 10:01:00 AM

Gary, congratulations on your win! What a wonderful scene of quiet beauty you set! It is a joy to sit with you and inhale all of the loveliness! All the best! Cheers! I do love your reflections on city squares, outdoor cafes, garden benches and seaside hideaways - just name a few!

Gary Radice
Date: 4/21/2022 10:12:00 AM

Thanks so much for that Sam! I love writing about all those things and Poetry Soup has given me that opportunity to share what I like with others. I wanted to paint a picture of a garden in a way that allows the reader to explore it further. Cheers - Gary

Ann Peck

Date: 4/21/2022 7:40:00 AM

Very beautiful poem, Gary. Congratulations on your win!

Gary Radice
Date: 4/21/2022 9:21:00 AM

Thanks Ann. What with everything going on in the world right now I'd just love to be sitting on that bench. :) Gardens are an escape, a place of relaxation, a means of therapy and a work of art in themselves. Cheers - Gary

Christuraj Alex

Date: 4/20/2022 7:18:00 PM

"the joy and beauty of hibiscus flowering bright where no one goes" - Beautiful picture. Congratulations!

Gary Radice
Date: 4/21/2022 3:21:00 AM

Thank you Christuraj. I always try to paint pictures with my words so your comment means a lot. Cheers - Gary

Bj Legros Kelley

Date: 4/20/2022 5:48:00 PM

Gary, thank you for your submission and congratulations on your first-place win in the Garden Inspirations Poetry Contest! I have jasmine blooming in my garden now :) This was so peaceful. ~BJ

Gary Radice
Date: 4/21/2022 3:20:00 AM

Hi BJ Thank you once again for sponsoring another great contest. I'll be reading all the winning entries later today. Cheers - Gary

Laura Leiser

Date: 2/2/2021 8:10:00 AM

What a lovely, desirable bench to sit in, Gary! I would love to sit there and enjoy the beauty of it..great poem! :)

Gary Radice
Date: 2/2/2021 8:21:00 AM

Hi Laura - thanks so much for stopping by and reading.

Beryl Edmonds

Date: 2/2/2021 6:31:00 AM

That’s lovely Gary, I can picture the rose walled garden, see myself on the ornate bench and enjoying the intoxicating jasmine scent... Belle

Gary Radice
Date: 2/2/2021 7:05:00 AM

It's so nice to escape somewhere peaceful isn't it? Somewhere away from the hassles of modern day living. Cheers Belle - Gary.

Juliet Ligon

Date: 1/27/2021 8:27:00 AM

Beautiful time out series. Nice details. Sounds like a lovely place to be.

Gary Radice
Date: 1/27/2021 8:50:00 AM

Thank you Juliet. I appreciate your comments. Cheers - Gary

Sara Kendrick

Date: 1/23/2021 12:53:00 PM

I like this hidden garden. Congrats on your winner. Sara

Gary Radice
Date: 1/23/2021 2:35:00 PM

Thank you Sara for your lovely comments.

Geoffrey Brewer

Date: 1/20/2021 6:41:00 AM

I find delight in your use of rhyme, rhythm and imagery, with a simplicity that belies the skill of the writing. Well done, Gary.

Gary Radice
Date: 1/20/2021 7:02:00 AM

Thank you for that fantastic compliment Geoffrey, particularly as its from a poet of your great standing. Cheers - Gary

Sand Blown

Date: 1/19/2021 2:34:00 PM

...nice...wright on....an oldt park bench was my rest stop when cycling......stan sand

Gary Radice
Date: 1/19/2021 2:56:00 PM

Thank you Stan. There's something about a park or garden bench that inspires me to write. I appreciate your visit and read. Cheers - Gary

Darlene De Beaulieu

Date: 1/19/2021 11:34:00 AM

Hello Gary a beautiful scene with your words. Flowers of any types are beautiful. although we all have our favourites. Enjoy your day my friend.

Darlene De Beaulieu
Date: 1/19/2021 3:10:00 PM

Hello Gary, you are so welcome. Cheers Darlene.

Gary Radice
Date: 1/19/2021 11:40:00 AM

Darlene, thank you for your lovely words and thank you so much for your visit. Cheers - Gary

Sam Kauffman

Date: 1/19/2021 10:08:00 AM

Gary, you have created a hidden garden of beauty with your lovely words of imagery. There is such a strong sense of the perfume of flowers in your garden. Thank you for inviting us to sit with you in this secret, magical hideaway. Well done my friend. All the best.

Sam Kauffman
Date: 1/19/2021 1:01:00 PM

Gary, I am so honored! Can't wait to visit more of your garden! Sending positive vibes and best wishes my friend!

Gary Radice
Date: 1/19/2021 11:46:00 AM

Thank you Sam. It was really your comments about another poem of mine that influenced this one with your words "an invitation to explore" I plan to revisit this walled garden in future poems and explore other parts of it and hopefully bring readers along..not sure exactly how yet but I will. Thank you - Gary

Akham Nilabirdhwaja Singh

Date: 1/19/2021 6:08:00 AM

Amazing ! A lovely poem well penned.

Gary Radice
Date: 1/19/2021 6:11:00 AM

Thank you Akham - I really appreciate your comments.