early summer sun
the first dahlia blooms reaching
up toward the sky
They make me wonder---
What fingers wove the tapestry of their being!
The splash of violet here, mauve there, white with red stripes—
They stand tall and do not bend till the wind forces them to.
Though soft, they manifest dignity.
When stress and depression shoot their thorns,
A glimpse of these beauties spell discipline.
‘We are of the earth and we belong to her.
She has given us beige, yellow, red and has waited
For us to grow, in effort and ecstasy.
When butterflies, birds and bees hum around
We greet them with glee. We fear not.
We bear the heat, the dust and the cold--
Even in pain, in disdain, we find the sun.’
In their company, I find freedom. And
In their being, my soul.
The house on the hill
with its magical spell
has shed the years
possessions they mount
collecting memories
cause the Sun follows us
and the dahlias
with its daydream quality
makes us happy
with all the things we could do
fine new fernery
two forgotten dahlias
innocently bud
Orange sunshine, pink butterflies, in dawn buds of hope-
Last night's rain has caused noon blooms in the fields!
Canaries are flying low in a season of scents and scenery;
And the moments are creeping, in response to sultry heat.
A day among varicolored dahlias, at the premiere of life,
As bees are buzzing for honey, at summertime's midlife.
Tall trees cast shimmering shade, all the green afternoon,
Amid life's colorful, lovely, eclectic sights and sounds.
Until delight and fragrance greet dreamy evening eyes,
And deep burgundy sunshine leaves with the butterflies!
Written on 7/7/2021
For: A Brian Strand July 8 Poetry Contest
Deep purple dahlias - plush garden zen
steeps in the moonlight hours. Zappiest buds
sleep in their flower beds - beautiful dreams.
Keep of dazzling pompoms - perpetual studs.
Blaze of royal beauty ~ reign of kindness.
Praise of Queen of Autumn in twilight’s dim.
Sways, the ornamental puffs, sowed in dirt.
Daze of youth plucking stem. Love’s princely whim.
6/10/2021
Contest: Lento 8 Lines
Sponsor: Joseph May
So tangerine apricot carrot colored and marmalade,
Blooms graced the garden of warm sunshine and shade.
Orange were rich dahlias where hummingbirds hummed,
With a rare beauty which left the daylight stunned!
Over with the blues, skies of chiffon clouds danced,
All of a summer, while huge marigold sun entranced!
Orange were the butterflies, searching for delights,
Whereas flame robins flounced and sang day and night!
The crickets
In perfect harmony with the frogs
Serenade Bachianas outside our window
Inspiring the candle to a seductive dance.
Tempted by the candle’s charm
Your hands shape into a bird
That flies to the flawless white ceiling
To join her shadow.
Your eyes, two stars
Brighten your lips
As your hands get more and more lost
In this Swan Lake.
I get lost in your kiddish smile
I welcome the blessings of your lips
Your hands gliding my body slowly
Landing on my hips
All I can see are the stars above me.
In this archetypal setting
Set by you and the universe
I surrender my body and soul
I become the host to your passions and desires
And you patent me.
Slowly,
Your silky white skin
Covers my body
And we become one under your heavenly mantle.
The river wants to join
She raises her voice
to announce her grand entrance
And with her wide motherly hands
She claims our bodies.
In her currents
We float throughout the night
Travelling in the rhythm of Bachianas
under the stars
Through fields of vanilla scented purple dahlias.
Shattered glass below my feet causing open wounds
Like the blood pumping blue through this aching heart
My mind has been twisted once again when I thought it was tamed
Love is not the word to describe the pain when love is lost
Fluttering wings of butterflies cause the stomach to excite the brain
Missing her was not what I signed up for with the pen of blue ink
I feel like love is just a golden thought in my dreams of destiny
No need to feel any more when my heart has turned to stone
With endless thoughts of what she's done these tears fall like rain
No longer dancing together hand in hand I am left to dance alone
Wishing this rain would wash away all the pain of losing her
I'm just reminded that dancing alone is what she enjoys the most
As I fight this pain of a broken heart I try to be her friend
For if I lose the one who made me dance like children drinking soda
If I lose the one who still controls my mind, heart, and soul
I'll be left crying alone laying in fields of dying dahlias
Work of wonder
work of light.
Bend to heaven
dispel the night.
colors so rich they overwhelm me
with their brazen scents,
winds so warm, they feel like the
gentle caress of a lover
waters sparkle like your eyes; a
timeless green that turns
gray in the shadows
the sun is thrown from side to side when
its high in the ever burning blue sky
a rose so red, by it's name you know it
smells just as sweet
a dahlia so fragrant, no perfume
can compare
both sweet; both so fine
their lovely scents you give me
make them mine.
Just
growing
with the flow-
flowers of the
sea
*sea anemone