Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Weekly Scribblings #5: A Mouthful Of Flowers


 "It is easier to tell a person what life is not, rather than to tell them what it is. A child understands weeds that grow from lack of attention, in a garden. However, it is hard to explain the wild flowers that one gardener calls weeds, and another considers beautiful ground cover." ― Shannon L. Alder

Hello everyone and welcome to another round of Weekly Scribblings! Flowers have continued to inspire poets, writers and artists for generations. From what I gather, one of the many reasons could be that the language of flowers is metaphorical. For example, the children were roses grown in concrete gardens, beautiful and forlorn.

Perhaps due to the reason that they often act as a symbol for certain things. I remember reading John Steinbeck's short story, "The Chrysanthemums," in college where he displays an extraordinary ability to delve deep into the complexities of a woman's consciousness. The story is told in the third person, but the narration is presented almost entirely from Elisa's point of view.

Your challenge today is to write while inspired by flowers. Feel free to associate them with memories, to romanticize, to go dark or sombre, to press them neatly between pages.

We at Poets and Storytellers United accept both poems and prose prose pieces (i.e. stories, essays, articles) you may contribute more than one entry but remember to link before Friday 11 am as Mr.Linky closes at that time. Also, if you opt to write prose then please keep it to 369 words or fewer.

The force that through the green fuse 
drives the flower
by Dylan Thomas

The force that through the green fuse drives the flower
Drives my green age; that blasts the roots of trees
Is my destroyer.
And I am dumb to tell the crooked rose
My youth is bent by the same wintry fever.

The force that drives the water through the rocks
Drives my red blood; that dries the mouthing streams
Turns mine to wax.
And I am dumb to mouth unto my veins
How at the mountain spring the same mouth sucks.

The hand that whirls the water in the pool
Stirs the quicksand; that ropes the blowing wind
Hauls my shroud sail...


A Red Flower
by Claude McKay

Your lips are like a southern lily red,
Wet with the soft rain-kisses of the night,
In which the brown bee buries deep its head,
When still the dawn's a silver sea of light.

Your lips betray the secret of your soul,
The dark delicious essence that is you,
A mystery of life, the flaming goal
I seek through mazy pathways strange and new...


Good luck composing your masterpieces. I look forward to reading what you come up with. Please do visit others and remember to comment on their work. Also, enjoy this musical inspiration by Sting. Have fun!💝
  

20 comments:

  1. Sanaa, Thank you for your choices of Thomas and McKay. Both entries are a wonderful end to my day here. This subject of flowers gave me a chance to give you all something a little different this time.
    Cheers to all!

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    1. Thank you so much, Joel 😃 I am so glad you enjoyed the prompt! Heading over to read you! Happy Wednesday 💝🍹

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  2. I agree, love the poems chosen – one which I knew well and the other entirely new to me, and both a joy to read.

    I'm glad you said we could go dark or sombre. Hard for me to go anywhere else yet ... but your prompt did remind me of one small cause for hope.

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    1. A poignant share, Rosemary! I am so glad the prompt ushered a bit of hope. Thank you so much for adding your voice to the prompt!😃 Happy Wednesday!💝🍹

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  3. I also enjoyed the poems by Thomas and Mckay, Sanaa - thank you. I decided to write about my favourite flowers.

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    1. Thank you so much, Kim 😃 so glad you enjoyed them! Heading over to read you! Happy Wednesday💝🍹

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  4. OMG, i thoroloughly enjoyed Sting - Dessert Rose.Thank you for today's prompt Sanaa
    Happy Wednesday to all

    (✿◠‿◠)

    much love...

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    1. Thank you so much, Gillena 😃 so glad you enjoyed it! Loved your haiga. Happy Wednesday!💝🍹

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  5. I'm dreaming of flowers on this cold February morning. Can't wait to see what blooms here today. :)

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    1. I am enjoying the responses so far 😃 it's almost dinner time here and the weather is crisp and cold outside. Happy Wednesday, Rommy!💝🍹

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  6. I love flowers and so your prompt. Thanks for it. Hope everyone enjoys the day.

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    1. Thank you so much, Myrna 😃 so glad you enjoyed the prompt! Your poem is so lovely and has made me so emotional. Thank you! Happy Wednesday!💝🍹

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  7. Hello, everyone! I like this prompt, Sanaa, and will come back to read and post. 🌹🌻💐

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    1. Hi Jenna! I am so glad you liked the prompt 😃 and look forward to reading what you share with us. Happy Wednesday!💝🍹

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  8. Hello Sanaa and thank you for a lovely prompt. Beautiful poems and Sting is one of my favorites. Roses always remind me of my sweet mother.

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    1. A most beautiful poem, Linda! Thank you so much for writing and sharing. Happy Wednesday!💝🍹

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  9. Thank you for the blooming inspiration, Sanaa.

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    1. And thank you, Magaly 😃 for the delicious poem! I loved it! Happy Wednesday!💝🍹

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  10. Love the prompt..My flower isn't grand though. :)

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    1. Yours is stunning and full of depth, Susie!😃 Thank you so much for writing. Happy Wednesday!💝🍹

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