Best Corsage Poems
It was the last year of high school and there was a lack of beaux,
But then I got an invite. Whew, that was close!
So now the Prom was coming and I was going to go!
Mom gassed up for the city, headed out with me in tow,
Big stores all hunched together on a tall and scary street,
One dress along a rack with just repeat, repeat, repeat.
But Mom found a creation in an entirely different place,
Moulded tulle and satin, fairy dust and moonlit lace!
I thought she was kidding though the thing was just my size.
I was worried; fairy tales don't often turn out to be wise.
And the price tag is ridiculous! I said Mom take a look!
She plunked it down determinedly, tore a check out of the book.
That left a lot for me to do. My looks are commonplace.
New makeup and new lipstick; how about new face?
Silken shoes, a tiny purse, it's a lot of stress
Just trying to live up to this fantastic dress!
Rhinestone droplets dangle dangerous from my ear,
My long hair piled up high. How much taller I appear!
Prom night came...Poor Tommy! I was done up to impress.
My hair swept up, my makeup on, long earrings and the Dress!
He stood there in the doorway, uncertain in his tux,
Black tie, stiff shirt; this is getting all too much!
The corsage he held between us was carnations glowing red.
He looked up cautiously and ventured; "Is that you, Bo?" he said.
Categories:
corsage, 12th grade, dance, high
Form:
Couplet
Noor* of Taj Mahal, jeweled in red stone
death or love, tranquil oasis alone
rich jasper and jade hanging on its walls
in cold melody, mourning music falls
Mesmerizing bride in gossamer gown
Veil reveals... the majestic palace crown.
A medley of corsage strewn in sealed dream
opulent facade, beauty is the theme
Pale blue sky in her iconic magic
wax melded moonlight triumphs a tragic
covenant of love, splendor celebrates
passion so strong will never recreate
Aurora of a queen in marble white
glinting Yamuna*, her sole copyright.
* Noor is an urdu word meaning Light
* Yamuna is the river on the banks of which Taj Mahal lies.
Taj Mahal means Crown of the Palace
19th July 2019
Sponsor William Kekaula
Contest Name ILMO My Mom 06-24-29-08-04-09--90th Heavenly Birthday--The Most Beautiful Sonnet
Categories:
corsage, beautiful, celebration, love, memorial
Form:
Sonnet
She sits on the porch in a cool desert night
A bobcat stalks prey in the day's fading light
The moon looks like a big orange in the blue
Evoking old memories she thought she outgrew
Memories of nights of moutons and mums
High stepping half-times and booming bass drums
And homecoming dances that ended too soon
Under West Texas stars and a big bobcat moon
He sits on the beach in an evening gulf breeze
An autumn vacation in the Florida keys
The moon looks like a big orange in the blue
And brings to his mind an old memory anew
The reunion that gathered together that year
Old friends and acquaintances scattered and near
To tell stories of glories till late afternoon
And share in the evening the big bobcat moon
We sit by the lakeside past sunset one time
The end of another communion sublime
The moon looks like a big orange in the blue
And summons a vision of friends we once knew
She flies round the barrel with her long ponytail
He yells and rings joy on the victory bell
We loved them and all those who left us too soon
We'll remember them well with the big bobcat moon
©January 10, 2013
For my high school reunion group. The bobcat is our school mascot.
In Texas, girls often dressed up for the homecoming game and were given a chrysanthemum (mum) corsage by their date. In the late fifties an inexpensive "fur" coat made from straightened and dyed sheepskin called a "mouton" was often worn by girls wanting to look elegant.
Categories:
corsage, autumn, friendship, loss, moon,
Form:
Rhyme
What made you so special my freckle faced friend..
the day I heard you singing to a record, from your window next door.
Bell bottom clad teenaged knock out, with a ballerina's step..
In huge Cape Cod two story where dreams took form.
My mom hummed a tune as she ironed my best shirt..
Fumbled with your corsage, wondering why I chose red.
Last dance I remembered was always our first,
humbled by a mirage., in a golden gown dress.
Realized too late the secret your parents kept,
all the plans they'd made for you..
plain enough to see I wasn't part of them.
Not enough coins lined my pockets to set you free,
at least not enough for them to ransom you to me.
Some days found me prayin',
some I cursed right out loud.
Wonderin' does the one you share today in,
know the goldmine he had found.
Did he bring you eyes full of stars,
and promise all his tomorrows.
Realize what heaven sent gift you are,
never lament a heart left to sorrow.
Does he read them bedtime stories,
and tuck them into bed..
Listen to child borne wonders and worries,
every wild dream that fills their head.
And did you share those freckled hands,
every time you stopped to tie their shoes..
protect them with those same plotted plans,
your parents chose for you.
Do you ever hear that record playing..
among the distant stars that shined so bright?
New days come, battles lost and battles won..
lost in heartfelt wish that I'd been born..
that lucky seventh of seventh son.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Categories:
corsage, crush, house, proposal, sad
Form:
Rhyme
On The Suicide Of Dorothy Hale
Known for her self portraits and her politics
Her famous unibrow and her elaborate dress
And for twice marrying Mexico's most renown muralist
Her paintings which bore her pain were well received
And to this day are still growing in success
However my intrigue lies in her greatest fail
Not still life nor self portrait rather
Her commissioned portrait of late actress Dorothy Hale
Asked for by Hale's friend publisher of Vanity Fair
Intended as a gift for the grieving mother
No doubt a caring gesture to ease untold despair
But Frida Kahlo in her visceral style
Produced The Suicide Of Dorothy Hale
A piece which did more to trumpet her own guile
More accurate and macabre a portrayal than anyone would expect
The actress in her leap from her high-rise suite
A ghostly image draped in white falling to her death
And at the bottom her lifeless body replete with bloody mess
Corsage of yellow roses pinned to her favourite black dress
For me this painting speaks more of Frida Kahlo's honesty
Than any self depiction
Her character, personality, and her absolute conviction.
17.05.06
At the bottom of the painting in blood red lettering reads
"In New York City on the 21st of October 1938, at 6:00 in the morning,
Dorothy Hale committed suicide by throwing herself from a very high window
in the Hampshire House. In her memory [...] this retablo was executed
By Frida Kahlo."
Categories:
corsage, appreciation, art, suicide, ,
Form:
Free verse
Laid in a ragged carpet,
a corner of the street
awash with vivid colour,
a vision bittersweet.
Between the sagging flowers,
ribbons and cellophane,
a portrait and a smiling bear
whose face belies the pain.
With passing days the blossoms wilt
the colours fade, they die,
raindrops run down the frame and glass
the silent portrait cries.
The world still turns, people walk past,
flowers will soon be gone,
rainbow of sorrow washed away
and life will carry on.
But my bouquet shall never fade
for it never lay there,
a posy that no hand had made,
this corsage made of prayers.
Sent skyward like a new bride's gift
beyond the stars above,
tied with ribbons that cannot fray
such is the strength of love.
More streets may fill with flowers as
more sorrow surely comes,
but my bouquet will still shine on
like a thousand setting suns.
Categories:
corsage, sorrow,
Form:
Rhyme
"When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled
because you knew" Shakespeare
_________________________
After the prom my date took me to a diner,
we were still wearing our formal wear;
oh, I felt so grown up and pretty,
our faces glowed with love and happiness.
I was so excited that I trembled for I was,
on my first date;
and my new love looked so proud he was bursting.
Proudly I let the soda jerk smell my corsage,
I will never take it off no matter what;
and I pause often to sniff the scent of the flower given,
on my first date.
A man beside us watches with a smirk and a smile,
and my love sweetly holds my pink sweater and gloves.
I will never ever forget this magical evening,
and never imagined anything could feel so wonderful;
mother had fussed with my dress and hair,
she wanted me to look perfect and beautiful;
on my first date.
I felt like a princess dancing at the prom over and over,
and after a slow walk home- a tentative first kiss.
____________________________________
October 2, 2019
Poetry/Narrative/On My First Date
Copyright Protected, ID 19-1185-725-02
All Rights Reserved. Written under Pseudonym.
Written for the contest, Realism Art
sponsor, Eve Roper, Inspiration #1
First Place
Categories:
corsage, art,
Form:
Narrative
Written: July 10, 2023
______________________________________________________________
The rain poured, a symphony of tears.
Washing away all the pain of yesterday.
Each droplet is a harbinger of hope and appears
As it danced upon the windowpane and sway.
Every storm is followed by a rainbow.
A promise of beauty after the decay
Colors burst forth in a vibrant blow.
Reminding us that joy can always find its way.
Every cloud passes through such a mirage.
A fleeting moment in the grand design.
Even the darkest sky holds a corsage.
A reminder that the sun will rise and shine
Each morning, the world awakens anew.
As the sun fills the earth with warmth.
Its golden rays caress the land view
Creating a tapestry of light forth.
and shadows that dance on the ground,
A symphony of colors and textures was found.
Fresh horizons beckon, waiting to explore.
As the sun's rays paint dreams upon the shore.
Nothing remains the same; it is ever-changing.
As a river that flows through the valleys and plains.
The light of day will prevail, arranging
Guiding us through the darkest lanes.
We find the strength to rise above our pain.
To embrace the beauty that emerges after the rain.
For in every storm, there lies a hidden grace,
A chance for growth and a fresh embrace.
Categories:
corsage, analogy, appreciation, inspirational, seasons,
Form:
Rhyme
I hadn’t seen her in over twenty years,
but I knew her face on sight;
I should have asked her to the senior prom -
instead, we both stayed home that night.
High school friends who never went on a date
because I was too afraid to ask her out;
In retrospect, the signs were there,
but I harbored a young man’s doubt.
Now, with two decades left behind us,
in a foreign land far away,
I stumbled upon my old high school crush
not knowing just what to say.
She was quite surprised to see me -
coincidences had put us there.
She was a successful corporate lawyer;
I was travelling without a care.
We shared pictures of our children;
Told snippets about our life;
Her husband was back in America;
I had just divorced my wife.
The bartender made his last call;
Nostalgic smiles were on our face;
We kissed and hugged goodbye again
as I quickly got out of that place.
I was glad to have gotten to see her,
though it made me feel inept again;
I wondered if we would have made good lovers
or if it were best kept just as friends.
She was in my thoughts as I wandered
around Europe with my back pack;
I promised that I would look her up again
in three months when I got back.
I read about her on the Internet
and cried when I saw the story;
She had died in an auto accident -
leaving behind her girl and boy.
It happened one week after
our chance meeting in that bar;
They said an old high school year book
was found with her in the car.
Her letter was in the pile of mail
waiting for me when I got home;
She wrote she was glad to see me -
on that trip she felt so alone.
She admitted to having a crush on me
back in our high school days;
She kept waiting for me to ask her out
until we went our separate ways.
She thanked me for keeping it casual
in the bar that fateful night;
She probably would have gone back to my room
and she knew that wouldn’t be right.
She asked me to remember her
but not to try to get in touch;
She’d rather me stay a memory
than get to know me a little too much.
I visited her in the graveyard
one day in the early spring,
and left a prom corsage there
as my final offering.
A Fictional Tale
Categories:
corsage, life,
Form:
Ballad
JACK PAINTED A PICTURE
OF A PURPLE WATERING PAIL
ON A PLAIN PAINTER’S PANEL
AND PLACED IT ON TOP OF A HILL
AND PUT MY POEM OF A PLANT DEEP INTO IT
I CALLED IT A COLLAGE CORSAGE
OR WAS IT A MIRAGE MONTAGE
NO MATTER
JILL WATERED THE WORK ON THE HILL
AND IT GREW UP OFF THE PANEL LIKE A PAPER BEAN STALK
INTO A LOVE SONNET TO JILL
I CALLED IT A COLLABORATION
I CALLED IT MIXED MEDIA
I CALLED IT HIGH ART
THE FAME WENT TO THEIR HEADS
JACK TOOK THE FALL HARD
AND JILL JUST TUMBLED DOWN
SLOWLY AFTER HIM AND WROTE A BOOK
Categories:
corsage, child, children, funny, magic,
Form:
Free verse
Carnations Pure Love
Carnations
Of many rainbow radiant colors
Kiss of heavens fragrance
With a heavy, spicy floral aroma tinged by sweet dark honey
~
Carnations
Corsage around my wrist
My first prom I cannot wait
And, lose myself in your arms as we dance
Silence
Kiss on the check; Daddy says be back before midnight
~
Carnations
Garland crown around my head
Express love deepens in my heart for thee
Found my home in the sea of your love to carry me
For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part
A kiss on the lips on my wedding day and with you the rest of my life
~
Carnations
Ink on my abdomen
Strong arms encircles my waist
Fingers brush and take my breath away
A kiss of blooms not forgotten
Doors open and mountains moved
~
Carnations
Casket spray
Lullaby love of heaven you’re taken away from me
Amazing grace and sermon said
To say goodbye
~
Carnations
Of many rainbow radiant colors
Kiss of heavens fragrance
With a heavy, spicy floral aroma tinged by sweet dark honey
11/3/2015
Categories:
corsage, bereavement, flower, love, wedding,
Form:
Free verse
Seems like only yesterday,
when I wore a white cap and gown. I was a very excited five year old,
it was my kindergarten graduation.
I was sick as a dog,
after crying until I could not breathe~mom said I could go.
The group diploma pictures were taken,
it was back home and back to bed feeling so sick.
I missed the party~I missed all the fun,
that made me really sad.
The years went by,
I had another chance to get it right.
A blue and white flower corsage I did wear,
school colors made me proud.
A night filled with family and friends,
for all to see what I had done.
Happy tears did fall,
as the next chapter in my life was about to start.
This time I was not missing the party,
cutting my big cake brought me much joy.
Date Written: 3/3/2023
Note: True story.
Categories:
corsage, family, feelings, flower, fun,
Form:
Free verse
Keeping Memories Alive
At times when we fear of trying
The righteous come to encourage
At times, it seems not worth inspiring
Somebody will cheer and make us to believe
I don’t know what would you like to be
Now you are gone, maybe a butterfly
To bring respite on our despair and agony
Or maybe a kiss and hug as you fondly say
A corsage of beautiful memories
Your words of encouragement will live forever
Evocation of feeling been told in your poetry
I am grateful to know you as poet and achiever
God has called you in heaven
Your family and poetry soup grieved
Safely home, no more grief, no more pain
Poems reconnect us, or in heaven the chain will live
6/05/2014
Written in loving memories of our friend Ms. Linda-Marie
Categories:
corsage, bereavement, death of a
Form:
Rhyme
Color, beautiful colors so fair.
Decorates life with beauty, gemstones.
Days without splendor could bring despair.
The human retina, its rods and cones,
Designed to paint man’s world with grand hues.
View majestic colors on earth’s throne.
Hues that paint nightlights with great amuse.
Storefronts, theaters and streets bedecked.
Beautiful colors: reds, greens, and blues.
Sometimes there is a spectral defect.
Pigment askew sees colors untrue.
Changing the vistas one might expect.
Colorblind people tell some jobs adieu.
Electricians, painters, and even cooks –
Let’s hope there will be a cure breakthrough.
On the good side, according to books,
Colorblindness detects camouflage.
A benefit, finds enemy nooks.
Corsage, collage, sabotage montage –
© March 6, 2011
Dane Ann Smith-Johnsen
Written for Poetry Soup Member Contest: Color Blindness
Sponsored by: Olajide Adelana
Categories:
corsage, people, science, sympathy,
Form:
Terza Rima
A boy moved into our small town, lived just down the way,
His British accent and lovely white smile, just made my day.
He invited me to the Easter dance and bought me a corsage
From beginning to end, the whole scene seemed like a mirage.
I wore a new white and yellow dress my Mom sewed for me,
She placed yellow ribbons in my hair, they matched perfectly.
We walked hand in hand to the dance talking about school,
Meanwhile my stomach was churning trying to stay so cool.
We swayed to Hey Jude, I thought I was in heaven for sure,
Yet scared of what would happen next - was I too immature.
Then the song ended, if there were others there I was unaware,
He moved his hands up my arms and touched my lips with care.
My expectations were high, thought I’d know love right away,
But I felt nothing, my hopes dashed, we broke up the next day.
Written August 11, 2012
For Craig Cornish’s contest
“First Kiss”
Placed second in contest
Categories:
corsage, growing up, school, teen,
Form:
Couplet