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Lily of the valley sweetened childhood, the way
it hid in green under our apple tree—green leaves
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I would pull single stems smoothly from protective
cover and crush their tiny white flowers to line
my pockets where their light could speed the dark school day.
Lilacs would, too, but they didn’t last—neither crushed
nor whole—and they hung proudly in spectator's view
rather than shy away their talents like a twin.
At this end of my life, I buy new lily bulbs
to plant, not realizing those that thrived back then
were ancient souls who grew to encourage me.
I can’t make them grow now, nor could I then. They must
volunteer, I suppose, after tasting a young
girl’s toes and tickling her nose wherever she goes.
For my prompt
My blog poems are rough drafts.
Please respect my copyright.
© 2017 Susan L. Chast
Sigh. How I adore this poem: especially that those long-ago blooms were "ancient souls who grew to encourage me". Love the idea of secreting blooms in your pocket to get you through the school day. And LOVE your closing lines! Wow!
ReplyDeleteThis is so enchanting. I bet your memories are rich with flowers these.
ReplyDeleteSweet, touching write. so glad to find this
ReplyDeleteafter tasting a young
ReplyDeletegirl’s toes and tickling her nose wherever she goes.... there's a kind of resignation to the power of the lilies..and a longing...beautiful.
Better lilies of childhood than lies of childhood! Seriously, I love that fragrant little flower, although I haven't seen or smelled one in over 20 years. Thanks for taking me back closer to my own childhood! No lie!
ReplyDeleteLuv your sharing of these memories
ReplyDeleteHappy Wednesday
Much love...
I adore it too! What gifts they are!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThose flowers that had the "ancient souls" have been propagated and variegated until the seeds or bulbs today produce flowers that are never quite the same. Your poem soothed my soul!
Sweet, fragrant memories. I like this sharing of the flowers which, like old souls, supported and guided you. Lovely thoughts.
ReplyDeleteOh this is so incredibly poignant!❤️ Especially love; "I would pull single stems smoothly from protective cover and crush their tiny white flowers to line my pockets where their light could speed the dark school day."❤️
ReplyDeleteI too, am a child of lillies of the valley memory. This rang soft bells of recall and a smile to my day.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
There is something quite magical in the way you wrote this Susan, giving such mischievous personalities to flowers too.
ReplyDeleteThe Lily of the valley reminds me of my grandmother's house and my childhood. Thank you for this today!
ReplyDeleteYour prompt has inspired a lot of poems about childhood.Beautifully expressed tinged with a little sadness.
ReplyDeleteThe magic of imagination shines here - i too remember crushing up petals and exploring the world..thankfully school was more light than dark though
ReplyDeleteA nostalgic and soothing piece. I can almost smell the lovely scent!
ReplyDeleteOh, that's absolutely delightful! I love the idea of them volunteering, so as to encourage a child they liked.
ReplyDeleteafter tasting a young
ReplyDeletegirl’s toes and tickling
her nose wherever she goes.
How they loved to be caressed by the little toes of innocents and emit the expected fragrance! They were alive!
Hank
Delicate and beautiful poem just like the fragrance of the flowers you describe, Susan...
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