Orris Poems | Examples

George Dunlop Leslie : Potpourri

It takes planning, a graveled path, herb sets
to create a heavenly perfume

some time around bloom time
excess pruned down by a third and hung.

We see a bit of the hanging God then
in the silky down of lavender, thyme

offer homage of pressed violets, 
golden suns of marigold as tune of awe.

The mincing of the mints is heavenly
as candy, sharp peppermint, mellow lemon balm,

the bedding down of chamomile, poppy maw,
the spiral sweets and gingered leaves of geranium

shavings of orris root, too many iris anyway
so free them all and set the scent create a smelly sum.

Add carnation stars, sticky sweet hollows of fennel
to tell the men, here is where the women live

won’t you remember your marjoram, your rosemary
with the pots on to boil, or laying head on crisp sheets and sigh.

It all takes planning, to decorate, alleviate, scent
create the corners of a life. Let’s go set the herbs.

Then breathe in the heavenly scent of potpourri lent
as offering, homage to all the plenty wonder of our lives.