Pastel colours and sweetness
Modest flower of cottage gardens
Encircled with soft green tendrils.
*
Delicate leaves rustle in the breeze
The flowers bow to the heavenly dance
And their fragrance ascends
Towards the zenith
Flowing on the updrift
Until they reach the horizon.
*
There a girl lifts her head.
She drops her hands
To dream of the time
When she left
An old-fashioned garden
***
***
© HMH, 2021
I love the colors in the peonies, but that garden just blows me away. One time, long ago, when I was living with my in-laws in San Diego, CA, we were in Old Town and I saw a woman painting a garden in acrylics. I wanted that painting sooo bad! I felt as though I could step into it and be in that gorgeous garden anytime I wanted. Alas, we were poor, and anyway, it wasn’t finished. I’ve sort of looked for a painting like this one for a long time. Now it reminds me I need to get out there and hunt again! I painted this one a few years ago, but I never was any good with flowers! Hope you can see it!
https://photos.google.com/search/_tra_/photo/AF1QipMWncd_xRIAdluB3NcChC_hyJqldtb6vFDQ__of
Alas, I couldn’t — there was a 404 message. . .
Cottage gardens have such a beautiful atmosphere. If I ever have a garden again, I’d do everything to create one.
I hope you liked my poem 😊
Your poem took me into a garden before I even got to the picture!
Thank you, Debi!!!
I’m editing “Summerbird’s Quest” now and once again got to read your lovely poem when the Riddle Tree presented it to Summerbird and her fellow travelers as a way to escape the troll ahead. For your other bloggers who might not have gotten to see it, this is exactly as copied from my WIP:
The Riddle Tree’s hum returned, as though they amused him. “Stubbornness and recklessness in humans are an ever-present trait, I fear. And so, I shall ask my riddle of you now. You must listen carefully, for I do not repeat myself. I shall permit you two questions afterward, myself deciding if I will answer them. My riddle is thus,
“To each his own, and thus flows life through gentle vessel.
“Casket, critic, savage guardian, still gives quiet space to nestle.
“Gentle mirror of tradition, tutor too, to help awaken
“Triad’s triad ne’er forsaken.
“Ugly, old, or poor and sickly, I can notably inspire;
“Young in beauty—rich in power, without reason, wouldn’t tire.
“Secrets shelter, secrets darken, secrets wither and conspire;
“Still, the circle has no ending—giving life but to expire.”
The Riddle Tree paused, then said more softly, “My riddle is done. For your kindness, dear lady, I will offer only what assistance I can, though it might be scarce. How humankind’s foibles do shade the truth. It would seem that you must reveal your secrets to answer this riddle. And now, ask me your questions.”
Immediately, Ùilteine stepped closer to the tree. “Is the answer alive?”
“Some are” —the unhurried reply paused— “yet some are not.”
“What kind of answer—”
Summerbird touched Ùilteine’s arm and shook her head. “Ivann, were you once, and are you still, in some way, a living human?”
“Yes and no,” replied the tree at once. “You have asked your questions. I tire. I will awaken in one hour for your answer.”
********************
Can anyone out there guess the answer? And didn’t Hanne write an exquisite poem for me? I’m so happy every time I read it!!
I can. . .
Of course, the secret is mine and Debi’s to keep. Thanks for quoting my poetic riddle, Debi. Happy to see how it fits into ‘Summerbird’s Quest’.
It was perfect! The Riddle Tree, or Ivann, is snarky and arrogant and once you know the answer, you can see how he thought he was being so clever. But there was also a secret there that one of the characters had to reveal to one of the others. (Wringing my hands with an evil laugh). Just so much fun!
So, you have a story with a sting in its tail. . .😉
I only hope I’m able to get across the layers of secrets in this sequel! It’s what’s kind of fun about being the writer. I get to go back and layer things just so, until I’ve built a perfect lasagna! 😜
Sounds right. Layers and secrets make the perfect lasagna. Also, working on several levels while writing is my idea of fun too. Maybe that’s why my current WIP is called Secrets and Lies. . .
Ooh, what’s it about?
It’s the last part of my trilogy ‘The Triptych’. Historical fiction starting out around the turn of the century and going through both world wars. The second part, ‘Woes and Wonders’ deals with the daughter of the heroine of ‘Snares and Delusions’, and the last installment centres on the third generation through the eyes of Britta (granddaughter and daughter of the first two heroines).
Which are published?
The two first parts of the trilogy, ‘Snares and Delusions’ & ‘Woes and Wonders’, are published on Amazon. You can find links to my Amazon author page in three countries on my Book page HMH’s Books. Look on the menu at the top.
Thanks for asking, Debi!
Leave a Reply