02 March 2016

Foxglove

Digitalis purpurea drawings by Franz Köhler


A flower was offered to me
by whom I couldn’t see
and so I passed it quickly by
though I wanted to cry.

A stalk of striking purple bells—
            finger-sized parallels,
scent intoxicatingly sweet—
            bees flock to its treat.

A flower was offered to me
so anonymously
that though I imagined fairy dust 
it's name I couldn't trust.

Digitalis, they say, is good for all
in doses very small
but if it’s taken to excess
its poisons coalesce.

A flower was offered to me
as perfect as could be
yet I feared to accept a love
            symbolized by foxglove.



         
 For Sumana's prompt

 Copyright © 2016 Susan L. Chast



18 comments:

  1. I love the playful rhythm and the magic touch, " yet I feared to accept a love / symbolized by foxglove." wise to stay away from enchanting entities...

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  2. Gosh! this is truly magical..such beguiling detail in your verse :D
    Beautifully penned.


    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  3. I like the humorous twist in this poem. I don't think I could resist the purple bells, lol.i only got offered stinkweed. Hee hee.

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  4. I really love the rhyming in this poem, Susan. Nice to read aloud! Ha, and I do understand why one might not want to accept love symbolized by a foxglove!

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  5. Sadly most beautiful things are lures for the unwary, the beauty of flowers, their sweet scent, even the taste may well be a trap. Curiously I can't remember ever being told not to eat any part of a foxglove for as a kids as we were likely to chew on anything those days! I must agree how well you have rhymed the paired lines.

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  6. I love this. It's funny, but sad if you have to take digitalis for the heart. Then the offering is not so welcome. Hope you're well Susan.

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  7. Fear of love poem. Very interesting!

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  8. Oh I would be afraid as well--so beautifully constructed Susan--I love the playful side here--on a very serious subject

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  9. Hmm.. roses might have done the trick perhaps!!! :)

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  10. Beautiful rhyming in this, Susan. A fear of accepting the unknown.

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  11. Yes, that is something to be wary of. We must trust our instincts! I like the form you created.

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  12. I really like where you went with this.

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  13. The thoughts and feelings pulsing through this poem are so rich - they seem to be a moment but a moment informed by a lifetime of learning..and living..everything good can turn into something harmful...it's all about balance i suppose

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  14. Oh, while learning flower arrangement many years ago, I developed a terrible rash on the backs of my hands that was itchy, weepy and pretty bad. Ever since then...Foxgloves are a complete no no for me!
    Great piece, Susan. Enjoyed reading this poem....it adds a musical element to reading. :)
    Thanks for sharing...

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  15. Life seldom offers gifts to us of our liking. To not accept what we get and to repent later is a process which some may call human foible.

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  16. In the past nearly everyone knew the "Language of Flowers" and a single bloom or a bouquet could convey messages (in some case quite intricate!). I like the way you allude to this language, Susan. Well-penned!

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