Inspiration in the Peonies
Time-capsule – uprooted with dandelions, clover, and thistle –
lifting the cap as if twisting the cork on a bottle of champagne
Ripples along the flesh – a letter – like finding a bottle
washed up along the shores of Kye Bay
‘Dear Future Self,’ it begins – the first line resonating, wrenches
in the heart; rustlings of memory and hope
(the way you would start your keepsake)
‘I’m sorry for the lost time – the possibilities not pursued
the dreams dashed against the rocks; fear gripped
too many of my steps, and I floundered, forever stuck
in this place; this space… wishing.
If you find this: SING widely, DANCE freely, WRITE lavishly,
SPEAK wisely and open doors – walk through them fiercely –
grow yourself like glacier lilies, mountain heather and artic lupine:
make yourself a bouquet to daily grace your table.
Thrive, thrive, thrive and do not go gently.’
(Cristy Watson, 2021)
I am not editing the poems for a few days, yet but I was reading them through for the first time this morning and realized that WordPress must not like tabbed spaces in the middle of a line? There is supposed to be a tabbed space after the word ‘space’ and before ‘wishing’. I hope I can fix this later or will add (…) but for now, please know if you read this that it was supposed to show the word ‘wishing’ on the same line, but with the space to give it breath and meaning. Thanks for reading!
You are right, this is a somewhat older version of WP and doesn’t allow for much in the way of formatting. But the words are all there! I love LOVE your ‘theme’ and how each poem builds on the one before. Some repeated phrases; in total, making a lovely journey forward and inward.
Love the juxtaposition of images: uprooted dandelions/champagne cork; ripples along flesh; and in particular from ‘if you find this’ on down. Just loved how you wove it together, the simplicity and positive nature of it. Thank you!
Good to be in the contest together again, Sarah! Thank you for all your comments on my poems – I am thrilled you spotted the repeated phrases threading their way through the poems – I am so surprised that the first prompt took me on this road and it worked! I also took your cue and added the picture prompt – the doors are different colours than I used but I wanted it to fit together. Off to read your poems!
The imagery you evoke is so fresh, and that last line–Brilliant!!
Thanks again, Bavishya!! It has been so much fun this year with the poetry marathon!!
The contrast of uprooting and finding a bottle on a shore! And the music that energizes this poem and builds to the dancing! The singing!
Thank you, Richard!! I was trying to build toward those lines and I am happy to hear it worked!
Star with the end: brilliantly conceived last online that really brings a powerful piece to a dramatic close. I love the images it evokes and the message. The juxtaposition of time/place is perfect for this prompt, this poem is perfect for it. Well done.
Thank you, Mark! I was trying to thread time through the piece and Dylan Thomas popped into my head as I neared the end of the poem.
I have been retired now for 3 years and look back with some sadness that I did not do all of the things I wanted to. But now I am finding the time.
Great poem
Thank you, oxmtch11!! At important life moments, we do that, don’t we? Look back and wonder if we missed something… but I love your attitude – we can do those things now!! Enjoy your retirement and keep writing! 🙂
“Grow yourself like glacier lilies” is such a delightful line. Bravo.
Thank you, peaflowertea!!! Much appreciated… I am still trying to narrow down my two for submission.