I am quite a peculiar sort,
My fragrant blooming days are short.
My petite petals well bell shaped,
In virgin, pristine white they’re draped.
I’m famed in myths and legends’ scope -
Symbol of happiness and hope.
Disclaimer:
Beware beautiful butterfly,
There’s more to me than meets the eye:
My intense scent however sweet,
Not designed as a nectar treat.
You call me a flower
But what kind?
Is it a yellow tulip? A cluster of warm sunshine and happiness?
Or maybe a Lily of the Valley? The tears I’ve shed for you made into delicate little milky white blossoms
Each petal carefully watered by the streams of water that run down my cheeks
Or am I an Aster? A small star, made from Astrea’s tears, so small and insignificant compared to the shining, sparkling gems that light up the night sky. Looking up at those ethereal jewels, never being enough. No wonder Astrea cried, I would’ve cried too.
Or am I a White Lily? My innocence and purity once so clean, as white as snow now forever tainted with your darkness. A dark, unremovable mark on the alabastrine flower, that will stay, no matter how much I try to get rid of it.
Filled with delightful sweet perfume - always opportunities to share
alluring flower
your uniqueness is dazzling -
tiny white bells ring
Beauty, innocence and purity as a dove
Uncurtained window by nature's love
Trust your heart, please be my wife
Lily of the valley, the elixer of life
29.05.2023
Anne-Lise Andresen
Copyright © All Rights Reserved
A Monoku, Haiku and 4 lines of Rhyme
3rd place in the contest
- Same Theme Poetry Contest -
Sponsored by: Tania Kitchin
* Lily of the valley is best known in herbal medicine as a heart medicine
Lily-of-the-valley, as white as snow,
displays a sweet-scented bell-like blossom.
In the woodlands in the spring, lilies grow,
lily-of-the-valley, as white as snow.
Christian Dior's favorite, yet few know
that these fragile flowers smell so awesome.
Lily-of-the-valley, as white as snow,
displays a sweet-scented bell-like blossom.
(Triolet)
08/24/2022
Eight Lines of Rhyme - Your Favorite Flower Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Tania Kitchin
rhyme zone/How Many Syllables
Stands there greeting me
Outside my window
A string of white pearls
My dear,
Lily of the valley.
Its pure white flowers
Arranged in perfection
Elegantly draped
O'er the emerald leaves
That stand upright as majestic walls -
These beckon me,
My eyes to see
The sight of true beauty.
Alas, but why
Does this beauty
A sadness adorn?
Why hangs its head
In despair, with
Dew drops shed as tears
Early in the morn?
My dear,
My dear, dear Lily of the Valley,
You know of a sorrow deep.
I see it in your peaceful stance
That in all its majesty
A secret hides.
You know of a sorrow deeper than all
Memories of grieving souls combined
And yet in that sorrow
Do You strive,
A beauty to show and uphold,
For eager eyes to behold and be made whole.
So shall I wake up each day
And gaze upon Your beauty, poignant
My dear,
Lily of the Valley.
Beholding the lily of the valley*
I’m brought to the beauteous Eden’s garden
blooming, feasting with life celebration
showcasing the Creator I adore.
Caressing each delicate bud, I bask
at its wafted sweet scent, offering hope
reminding me of the Saviour’s savour
when He sacrificed Himself with love’s price.
Immaculately white, it enthralls me
exuding purity that arrests soul
checking my righteous walk along God’s path
to confess sins and claim Christ’s full pardon.
Grateful to the Lord for blessings’ bounty
my heart worships Him with contentment bliss
learning that He takes care of lilies well
arraying them with beauty and grandeur.
Cognizant of its blest significance
I’m jubilant for the lily’s great roles
midst biblical verses so asserted
exalting Almighty that it pleases.
*Song 2:1 I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
June 5, 2021
3rd place, "Workshop: Inviting the Muse" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Jack Webster ; judged on 6/11/2021.
Lily of the Valley
Wakeful
Light of sunrise
Monarch butterflies' swarm
In a fluttering flight amid
Green fields
Nestling Lily of the valley
Flowers sipping nectar-
A sweetly scent
Of spring
5/2/2020
Let The Pens Flow - Butterfly Cinquain Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Jenish Somadas
New Butterfly Cinquain poem..
1) 9 lines only. Any theme..
- 2 / 4 / 6 / 8 / 2 / 8 / 6 / 4 / 2
He's the Lily of The Valley.
He's the Bright and Shining Star.
He's the King of Kings, The Lord of Lords,
He knows who we all are.
He knows all about us.
He knows each one by name,
Cares not about how much we own,
To Him we're all the same.
He owns all the cattle,
On every hill and plain,
And down deep in every mine,
The gold and silver veins.
No one is a stranger,
No man or beast or bird.
He's The Prince of Peace, The Lord of All,
He's The Living Breathing Word.
He's The Great Physician,
He makes a small man tall,
Nothing is too great for Him,
He's The Master of it all.
He is The Good Shepherd,
With a firm but gentle hand.
There is no doubt He's God's Own Son,
And yet The Son of Man.
Amongst God’s created flowers
indeed verily beauteous…
I am loved for my pure white colors
oozing with pleasantly sweet fragrance.
With the Lord’s Sovereign wisdom
providing me with red seed pods…
I make my whole plants
very attractive after blooming.
Accordingly in the language of flowers
I bear “the return of happiness” signification
Thus, I am well-sought during weddings…
for couples’ inspiration-bliss.
Best that I boast of along gratefulness’ delight…
is the mention of my name in the Song of Solomon 2:1*
featuring the Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ with His love’s purity
and redeeming blood for man’s eternal sanctification-scent.
*Song 2:1 I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
June 24, 2019
2nd place, "YOUR CHOICE FLOWER VERSE,any form,any theme" Poetry Contest; Sponsored by Brian Strand; judged on 6/24/2019.
A fragrant song with bells that ring
She adorns May in many hues
Lily of the valley will bring
A fragrant song, with bells that ring
Butterflies visit her in spring
The lily's scent leaves dulcet clues
A fragrant song with bells that ring
She adorns May in many hues
5-5-2019
Celebrate May With A Triolet Contest
Sponsor: Andrea Dietrich
Lily of the valley in spring
Ringing its white bells in the wind
Its sweet fragrance, one-of-a-kind
Lily of the valley in spring
How nice it blooms; a wondrous thing
Its quite poisonous...bear that in mind!
Lily of the valley in spring
Ringing its white bells in the wind
Celebrate May With A Triolet (Tree-O-Lay) Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Andrea Dietrich ((Winner: 7th Place)
Date written and posted: 05/05/2019
A woodland beauty lures with teary eyes
Her scented sweetness lingers in the air,
Conceals a blemish under virgin guise
A woodland beauty lures with teary eyes
Like Eve bemoans her loss of paradise.
She flaunts aesthetics with a flare to dare.
A woodland beauty lures with teary eyes,
Her scented sweetness lingers in the air.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Using (English version) Pentameter ~ each line has
10 syllables (5 metrical feet).
* teary … Lily of the Valley is also known as Mary’s Tears
[Legend has it that Lily of the Valley sprang from Eve's tears
when she was exiled from the Garden of Eden.]
**blemish … the Lily of the Valley is poisonous
***flare … indirect reference to ‘bell-shaped’ flowers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Contest: Celebrate May with a Triolet
Sponsor: Andrea Dietrich
Placed 3rd
© 5th May 2019
lily of the valley swaying
bells so tiny pristine dangle
perfumed april breezes praying
lily of the valley swaying
emerald foliage dancing
prized beauty from every angle
lily of the valley swaying
bells so tiny pristine dangle
AP: Honorable Mention 2020, Honorable Mention 2022
Submitted on May 5, 2019 for contest CELEBRATE MAY WITH A TRIOLET (TREE-O-LAY) sponsored by ANDREA DIETRICH
Lots of Lily of the Valley
In beauty of deeds sweetly scented.
Its highly poisonous tally,
Lots of Lily of the Valley
Stand erect, a lovely rally
which alters nostalgic lament.
Lots of Lily of the Valley
In beauty of deeds sweetly scent.
5/3/2019
A B a A a b A B
In forest glens and wild hedgerows,
a sweet scent stirs on zephyr breeze
White lily of the valley grows
in forest glens and wild hedgerows;
parks, gardens and in lush meadows
I love to wander past tall trees
in forest glens and wild hedgerows
a sweet scent stirs on zephyr breeze
checked with PS counter, 8 syllables per line
Celebrate May with a Triolet (tree-o-lay) Poetry Contest
Sponsor Andrea Dietrich
5/3/19
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