IRIS...IRIS
You're a Virus!
I hate your crying
And abhor your whining!
We made a Choo-Choo
You cried blue
When I squeezed your shoulders
To make you bolder!
You whined, "Nooo!"
Halting my show!
IRIS...IRIS...
You're a TYRANT!
I did my best to toughen you up
But, you spilled "all the milk" in your paper cup
When you cried out the single word "No!"
Now, who on earth, would ever know
You boxed me OUT - cold like Tyson
On life's cityscape ring in the world's horizon!
Oh, yes...you did...Iris..Iris!
You SURE did make an Iris..Iris
Out of ME
Forever a tyrant, I shall deem you be....
IRIS
Little Jane ran to Mike
Joyfully jumping and hugging
Mike elated after long trip
Jane points to calm Iris
Linda, sweet Iris so listless,
Our sweet birdie not talking,
Over a week, Linda said teary eyes.
No singing, no wise crack, no mimic.
Mike held parrot with heavy heart.
Doctors after doctors node their head,
Final answer bulbar A L S
Came as stone on head.
Linda screamed why god why ?
I know that look.
The look you give me when you have doubts
you look at me, but I notice a glimpse of
something
subtle
when the sun hits you right.
I miss seeing it.
I see eyes all the time
everyone has a pair
But nobody has yours.
How can I tell?
What should I wear?
You're wearing hazel which I match
mocha, but mine is dull next to you.
There's a light in yours.
Radiating from a ring only I can see.
You couldn't see it in the dark but to me?
There is no such place where you're looking.
But I know that look.
"There is no light when I look in the mirror?
Our clothes match?
Everyone has eyes, so what's the difference?"
I miss seeing you.
You wander through the night and the moon
simply isn't bright enough.
I can't see them, but they're there.
The moon can't blind me.
They can't blind me; I still see you
with my eyes I see you
and suddenly
we match.
It stands tall
proudly pointing to the sky
reaching high toward the sun
with hints of purplish blue peeking through
Buds open ever so gently
cautious shy and humble
unsure at first of their regal stature
unaware of their innate majesty
The iris parades its generous petals
ample and graceful
floating graciously
with carefree elegance
Poised amidst the garden
the iris is remarkably unaware
of its astonishing beauty
My Horn Iris Haiku
when with my iris
happened to be at IRS
many surprises
today i bought
a small bouquet
six long stems
of tender buds
in vivid blue
as luck
would have it
the day before
i'd bought a tall
and slender vase
never thinking
the two were
destined for
each other
the bouquet
slid into the vase
like it was
meant to be
a rare elegance
i'd rarely seen
so here we are
in awe
admiring
six irises
in their
graceful
ballerina
pose
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
blue is wild iris
like the skies of racy clouds
or berries that tempt
sunshine's companion
since mulberry hours of dawn
when scents greeted song
carefree is iris
like warm wind, whistling all day
lovely disarray
"blind iris"
my ire is
i'm not Eyre
to be loved
mechanically
molded mason
maiden made
methodically mad
can't you tell she
is a she
demon not
a demon
is she
for
she
frantic
pray
prey on
dreams of
dreamt of what
you were and what
you would like
and love to
be
me
If you are a gardener who likes to mess with iris
And you are lucky enough to have a winning combination
No one else has every created and shown before
You might be like Ralph Shreve from the Ozarks
His gorgeous purple and yellow iris is named after him
Shreve’s iris, best in show
Flags
Such a delicately beautiful flower
With a subtle refined and heavenly scent.
It stands above the others like a tower
And its sweet perfume into the air is spent.
Though it doesn’t have a great deal of power
It leaves most everyone peacefully content.
It adorns gardens of houses everywhere
And is planted in graveyards to show folks care.
I like roses, lilies, cactuses, and other beautiful
flowers that display their blossoms most of the year.
I like red, white, pink, and even bright yellows.
I like all flowers, birds, bees, and green trees.
I'm different from others, but I like myself too.
God made us all to be ourselves and do our best,
and like His entire creation, to depend on Him.
So, once a year, one of my colors is purple.
I say hello and encourage the rest of God's creation
to blossom where they are planted and be their best there.
I remind them that whether it's rainy or shiny, calm or stormy,
God will be there with and for them because He always cares for us.
Iris Days
Down there in winter
In Landstrasse quarters
Blankets of clouds
And the streets filled with waters
Darkness covers the city
In the hours of night
And no bird
Seems to be there
Or live there abide
Bare are the trees
That are standing beside
When a candel on window
appears as a bride
The buildings are ancient
For us to uphold
Vienna, the city,
Is life to be told
Keep hope close
(This iris reminds me)
By Michelle Morris
20/01/2024
This iris reminds me
To keep hope close to my heart
Let it bloom and spread the Light
Inspire my healing and my wholeness
The symbolism is historic
Nobility, trust and valour
Hope and wisdom for us all
As flowers hold eternal power
This iris is so magical
As Nature's blessings are wont to be
I thank God for His miracles
Grace and beauty for you and me
© Michelle Morris, 2024
I turned ten two days ago,
I blew out the candles with a heavy sigh.
You were born today,
Still.
Your lips inherited
The reddest hue of cardinal feathers,
Your rice paper skin
Pale and soft, fresh as silken snow.
I never knew what your eyes looked like
They never opened
Infinite iris colors
Never to be discovered
When I held you in my arms,
The guiding hand of God
drifted away
I gave the coldest of shoulders I suppose.
I looked outside the hospital window,
A frigid breeze made
The trees sway with unease
But all the leaves stayed in place.
A confetti of dust drifted
In the air conditioned hospital room
And time yet stood still
On my brother's only birthday.
Is it a tough job? Asked the brownies and faeries that day.
The elf did not answer, he was painting his petootsie away.
The Iris that were finished looked gorgeous indeed.
Too bad in the autumn they will all go to seed.
Do you also paint tulips? A butterfly came by to say.
Busy mixing paint colors, he did not answer right away.
I am pretty sure he does the lilacs, a bumblebee said.
That’s right said the elf, nodding his artistic head.
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