From our bodies, dead and deceased,
of decaying flesh rotted off bone,
poking through loose lavish soil
flowers sprout and feed from the sun
From the corpse's arm, a reeling ranunculus
reaches toward the sky’s bright star
snaking its roots between marrow and meal
suckling the dew of morning’s break
From the heel, a snapdragon floret
promenades through the skin of carbon feet
folding petals, one over the other
drawing beauty from
From the stomach, a dahlia blossoms
digesting under a tree’s great shade
awaiting their repressed august-time bloom
only to wilt in a thickened frost
From the chest, a celosia blooms
budding across the lung’s final breath
and releasing into the atmosphere
a life, reborn from nature’s death
I am Terracotta O' Lord God remove me
Rethink me my heart is Stone;
I want to be your flower Ranunculus
My heart now is tone;
FATHER take of your hand remold me;
Place your hand on my body shape me for your duty
Hold me off turn this heart of stone;
To be sober fill me with your spirit
Breathe in me with new life whisper Holy Sweet Somethings
I am terracotta O' Lord God removed me
Received me my heart is Stone
Change my hardened heart from Maleficence
Move me Lord Gradualness
Make me yours remold in your Passionateness
I want to be renewed for you
Make me my heart over to be, Ranunculus
9/20/22/
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. 2022©
a pale yellow dawn
as warmth finds baby blue skies
and apple blossoms
vast sandy beaches
cream roses lotus blossoms
add to dawn's palette
peach carnations bloom
near pale pink ranunculus
yellow butterflies
billowy clouds drift
a lilac parakeet sings
to utter stillness
Ravishing Rarities
ranunculus reigns
rhododendrons resplendent
roses radiate
Some Socialize
swifts soar, swans swagger
swallows / sparrows socialize
sandpipers scatter
Tasty Tree Types
tamarillo treats
tropical tamarind trees
tasty tangerines
written 29 July 2020
Palm fronds clatter
in a Santa Ana wind
and I am bitter as quinine.
Leaves furl
as the dead hands of summer
and I am bitter as wormwood.
The sun could burst in my anger,
leaves its flame in my ears
instead of forgotten promises.
If to give up is to hear truth
I wish I were deaf,
not to hear the sham
of words and music
and to steel in silence
rather than my heart bleed.
Tell me nothing but facts:
that sky is blue, but not cerulean.
Say sun is hot,
not warm as love's breath.
Teach me not to wait
for lies to blossom like ranunculus
in my heart's winter.
Speed blindness
and I will lie in the dark,
not to wait for day's break.
5th Place
Mid Summer Premier Contest
Sponsor: Brian Strand
7/21/17
The primroses still continue their welcome bloom on the commons on a May day,
With scattered oaks and rich thickets the birds chirping the days are longer,
Hundreds of nightingales singing together, sad songs from an enchanted forest,
A cuckoo is heard from deep in the fairy forest and the rich grasses knee deep.
Mornings now are not so dark, the pools and streams flow white with ranunculus,
Foxglove leaves are springing up, firm and green in the woods and on many banks,
Soon it will be time to dig and hoe, the red and black spotted butterfly flies,
Time to wander over ancient commons, the ichneumon flies are out busy and alert.
It's so nice to see the spring again in gardens the common current is so lovely,
Hedges luxuriantly green, the perfume of hawthorn, everything is just beautiful,
The woods to which the young people used to go out before day break, a-maying,
The sky with dark whitish clouds scudding their way to the sea, maybe some rain.
The primroses still continue their welcome bloom on the commons on a May day,
With scattered oaks and rich thickets the birds chirping the days are longer,
Hundreds of nightingales singing together, sad songs from an enchanted forest,
A cuckoo is heard from deep in the fairy forest and the rich grasses knee deep.
Mornings now are not so dark, the pools and streams flow white with ranunculus,
Foxglove leaves are springing up, firm and green in the woods and on many banks,
Soon it will be time to dig and hoe, the red and black spotted butterfly flies,
Time to wander over ancient commons, the ichneumon flies are out busy and alert.
It's so nice to see the spring again in gardens the common current is so lovely,
Hedges luxuriantly green, the perfume of hawthorn, everything is just beautiful,
The woods to which the young people used to go out before day break, a-maying,
The sky with dark whitish clouds scudding their way to the sea, maybe some rain.
Sweet pea, Apple blossom, Anemone, Brodea,
Peach blossom, Amaryllis, Delwood, Freesia,
Ranunculus, Calla lily, Bird of Paradise.
I think each of these smell very nice.
Needing more, these are a must.
Gardenia, Hollyhock, Narcissus,
Tulip, Wax flower, Seeded Eucalyptus.
I’m neither gardener nor a green thumb.
Must I say it, I’m rather flower dumb.
Every flower I plant quickly begins to fade.
Where to plant, what to plant, I don’t know the trade.
Alas I try every year to have a great show,
Not a lack of effort, just a lack of know.
Now if you see me in the yard digging in the dirt,
Ask God a prayer for the plants not to hurt.
Because each year I do ask God to forgive me,
Even though I fail, I’m a Springtime Wannabe.
Inspired by the contest Flowers of Spring (not an entry)