Best Orchard Poems
She's untouched fruit
from forbidden orchards
barren and wrinkled
with fragmented twigs,
whirling to the beat
of melancholic musings
of black-winged butterflies
that croon and reflect
the true tragedy of a queen
waiting for the
return of her king.
Beneath splitting dusks,
above wicked woodlands
of weathered grim dreams,
personified pomegranate seeds
drip in sangria sins
that feed her fears and lies
from familiar chalices,
but below the streams of
poetic gardens,
raspberry rivers taste
sweeter than honeydew melons.
Cosmos decipher
her destiny designed
for a silhouette emblazoned
in tarnished trinkets,
But there's nothing left
In her shining throne
that reflects in sorrow
like a tombstone
adorned with tilted
tulips and wilted roses
in a ruined wilderness.
All that remains is
a crown that lays
amongst ebony
and bones covered in
cobwebs coated in
memories and hurt.
Her tears swiftly freeze
into frost glazed lakes
holding the last breeze
of mourning dunes
searching for a valley
with his finest tune,
but empty chambers below
her feet echo with ghosts
of his rhymes,
as pantoums tangle in the
paralyzed streaks of
her golden hair.
She sits in silence listening to the wind
carrying wicked witches
and mythological stones,
Hearing the tale
of beloved cities separated
by unforgiving constellations.
If eternity can be illustrated
with calligraphic scriptures,
this poetic saga will reveal
immortal affections
through metaphors that
stretch beyond medieval
manuscripts of an
infinite infatuation.
Orchard’s earthy mossy trails
Gray-brown bark like dragon scales
Crooked branches stretch to hold
Tender almonds encased in fuzzy fold
Leafy clusters filter sun
And dapple grasses newly spun
Bathed in tepid valley air
Rich soil echoes memories long grown there
Perfect crisscrossing rows align
Green canopy woven into tapestry fine
Nurtured seasons; pollinating swarms
Bare branches clatter in winter storms
Pale pink blossoms; fragile drapes
Fluttering down like blushing snowflakes
Prolific bounty once again
From a living sanctuary:
My orchard realm
Oh such a spring in sixty-three,
the orchard there for miles they'd see,
light shades of pink that tinged the clouds
on blossoms where the bees would crowd
and dance from tree to tree.
The sun splashed yellow all around,
young lovers kissed outside the town
beneath the copse of trees.
The rumble of a summer storm
disguised the din of truth forlorn
as thousands marched this summer day;
our nation's sons in blue and gray,
like bees of spring they swarmed.
But not for life and not for play,
instead a pyrrhic death ballet -
the worst that man performs.
The orchard where they struck was shattered,
both limb of man and tree were scattered;
the rubble of their hate was strewn
where once a fruit of peace was grown -
blood and life was splattered.
But in these fields a seed was sewn
and grows to bear a truth that's known,
nourishing what matters.
The tears that drip like autumn leaves
shed for the dead and those they freed
are buried by first winter's fall
and mourned by coyote's lonely call,
now joined by mother's pleas.
While there a girl with tattered shawl
sobs for her love lost in the brawl
beneath the copse of trees ...
(One of the many battles fought on day two at Gettysburg)
The sky scatters pixie dust~
across orchards of dragonflies;
while in sunflowers, the stars do trust,
tracing tales through kohl-lit eyes.
A fairy cloaked in soft florals~
fragranced moon-mists and rhinestone rust.
But within veins of golden corals,
she weaves hope with saffron crust.
My heart,
An arid land was
Unamble a single feeling to produce
Till that Valentine's day
When
Into my life, she walked,
And
With her kind words
Her soft caresses
Her moistening kisses,
Succeded in turning it
Into a plentiful orchard of
Love!
© Demetrios Trifiatis
11 FEBRUARY 2015
When the orchard grows deeply lush
filling all rows with grapes
etched by dusk like a bold paintbrush,
I trace its outline’s silhouette
and rove along this patch
Where quarter moon draws a vignette
as leafage unfurl like coiled frills
showing off plump of red …
fruits ripe turned into wine on mills
nectar releasing piquant scent--
A harvest which imbues
Nature, her life- giving intent.
~
10/23/2020
Contance La France’s Writing Challenge-Tercet Contest
Tend Thy Orchard, Its Bad Limbs Prune
Shall thee let hope hold firmest sway,
Live life well now, without delay;
Enjoy the beach and its cool nights
Walk under moon's soft beaming lights.
Remember sorrow comes with grey,
Relief shall come if one but prays:
Yet thy heart must seek, stay in tune,
Tend thy orchard, its bad limbs prune.
Hold thee deep, virtues that are good,
Rarely say, if only I could;
Be given more, my days are hard
Life now deals me very bad cards.
Send me more, I deserve it all:
I bow and answer thy hard call,
Reward me for my greater work,
For my duty I never shirk.
Tis' best to in a humble way,
Sacrifice more, asking no pay;
Enjoy hard tasks, thee are blessed,
With those unseen hands that caressed,
Faithful Hearts and Souls from the start,
Joined in truth that which never parts.
Embrace the favors in Truth's Light,
Fear not demons of darkest night.
Robert J. Lindley, 5-25-2018
RHYME, ( Tribute to Christina Rossetti )
"Your task is not to seek love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it." Rumi
She sits near the peach orchard
Waits to take love's calloused hand
Autumn's leaves are nearly gone
Winter's cold wind on life lands
Whispers in soft twilight glow
As snow on the mountains fall
Memories like rivers pass
As future's vision does stall
The seasons have had hard blows
Mixed in blessings from above
Memories comfort you so
While hand and hand, we still love
Silver strands in moonlight shines
Love now a great fulfilled dream
Through some storms and gentle snow
Love's true strength will always gleam
By faith we understand that the universe was ordered by the word of God.
Hebrews 11:3
Oh loving God.
You gifted us with a wonderful earth,
An orchard enthralled with delicious fruit,
Tame animals of all kinds,
And birds rare and colorful swirling above,
Whilst all around fragrance
Add a sense of luxury or personality.
All created for human’s delight. and enjoyment.
Despite man’s fall from the wiles of the serpent,
We still have a covenant to observe.
Love God first above all
And love thy neighbour like yourself.
God works the whole week,
For He continues to create goodness.
Keeping this miserable planet rotating
To produce food and water.
Yet man is destructive.
Wars abound everywhere
And when cities are destroyed, we blame the Creator.
Stop, O miserable human.
And reflect: We must take care of His creation.
.
When in marriage, life together just begun
Planned on adding to this wordly estate
Planting an orchard was so much fun
Foreseeing years of luscious fruit on plate
But all things of this world cycle
Being brought down to death and decay
Very few of the trees still stand now
They have gone to other uses_ maybe sleigh
These temples are made of dust and minerals
They will be put away in the dark earth grave
But there is our soul which is immortal
It will live forever and a day
My heart* is a secret orchard
welcoming the entrance of the divine Gardener
Whose tending grace cheers flowers of prayer delight
as He hears supplications that faith-filled white roses shout
along the plight of chrysanthemums and daisies for nourishment-radiance.
In my heart's garden thrive vines that strive to reach the top
vibrantly inviting sovereign sun-rays for illumination-triumph
with wise enlightenment for counsel against towering arrogance
while lingering in the warm presence of the Creator Who inspires
always checking selfish motives and directing victory toward His exaltation.
Opening my heart's blessed garden
is the perfect Tiller, supplying it constantly
with goodness-buds midst serenity blossoms
against attacking pests of dearth and weeds of fruitlessness
replenishing with blessing toward abundant harvests to share His love and kindness.
*Psalm 44:21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
April 27, 2026
Edited on May 20, 2026
2nd place, "My heart is a secret garden" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Silent One; judged on 5/21/2026
A repost
She waits near the peach orchard
Waits to take love's calloused hand
Autumn's leaves are nearly gone
Winter's cold wind on life lands
Whispers in soft twilight glow
As snow on the mountains fall
Memories like rivers pass
As future's vision does stall
The seasons have had hard blows
Mixed in blessings from above
Memories comfort us so
While hand and hand, we still love
Silver strands in moonlight shines
Love now a great fulfilled dream
Through some storms and gentle snow
Love's true strength will always gleam
Crisp apple fragrance
cheers a ripe sunny morning ~
Pippins nip the air
~
A family gathers
under the autumn sunshine
picking the bounty
Ladders rest against the trunks
A picnic waits under trees
~
Children giggle while
russet leaves whirl merrily~
God's eyes are smiling
For "Harvest of Happiness" Contest
A gilded orchard,
Golden grove of apple trees;
Silver roots of sin.
Oh Georgia, my orchard heart
The king is waiting on his throne
Of red clay, of glass jars and strings
Cicadas shriek into the wind
A doe, she turns to me
then turns back again
Oh Georgia, my gentle sky
The perfume of your trees
Your streets
Three a.m., do I still know where they lead?
Tie the ribbons, to the branches
I watch the day's afterglow
So much to pick up,
All these twigs and stones
interstate seventy five
Like the pulse of my southern land,
I'm still alive, I'm still alive