Tiptoe Through the Tulips
After last night’s storm the tulip petals
are strewn across the patio
where they mortally fluttered
The stems lay where they were thrown
Deflowered, Dead-headed
as they landed in his face
falling ingloriously at his feet
Pistil and stamen in tact
Naked tulips
The deep violet petals took flight
Descending to the ground in slow motion
The storm, a tempest in a tea cup
Coming from nowhere
with a whipping wind
stirring things up
that are better left alone,
Words cannot be unsaid
The previous night’s debris
a sad reminder that
not only flowers die
Copyright © 2022 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved
Linda Lee Lyberg is hosting Poetics tonight at D’Verse and has prompted us to start our poem with a line from James Harrison’s Songs Of Unreason
Here are the eight lines to choose from:
I chose the last one
“There is a human wildness held beneath the skin.”- Arts, Jim Harrison
“He went to sea in a thimble of poetry.”- Poet Warning, Jim Harrison
“In truth each day is a universe in which we are tangled in the light of stars.”- Horses, Jim Harrison
“I don’t know what happens after death but I’ll have to chance it.”- Desert Snow, Jim Harrison
“Yes, in the predawn black the slim slip of the waning moon.”- Remote Friends, Jim Harrison
“Some days in March are dark and some altogether glittery and loud with birds.”- March in Patagonia, AZ, Jim Harrison
“We’re doubtless as old as our mothers, thousands of generations waiting for the sunlight.”- Sunlight, Jim Harrison
“After last night’s storm the tulip petals are strewn across the patio where they mortally fluttered.”- Church, Jim Harrison
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This is so sad, raw and true Christine!
Thanks so much Ingrid ☺️💕
Love it 🙂
Thank you! ☺️
The emotion in your beautifully crafted poem is palpable. Wonderful writing.
Thank you dear Helen ☺️💕 I hope you are doing well.
I cannot deny the terrible sadness after reading your poem….even for the tulips first…..and then for the metaphors underneath…..powerful verse…
Thank you Ain. I appreciate it very much ☺️💕
Christine, love this! You owned that line with this beautiful metaphor. ❤️
Aww, thank you Punam ☺️💕❤️
My pleasure. 💞😊
The use of deflowered and that ending made your whole poem work as a metaphor for the way humans keep hurting each other.
Thank you! I appreciate it ☺️
Oh that closing tugs on my heart, Christine! Gorgeously rendered 💝💝
Thanks dear Sanaa! ☺️❤️
Thank you so much David! ☺️💕
Beautiful imagery!
Thank you so much. I appreciate that ☺️💕
Your words are so lovely Christine.What a perfect way to end:
‘Words cannot be unsaid
The previous night’s debris
a sad reminder that
not only flowers die’
Thank you Linda! Wonderful prompt lines from you. Thank you ☺️💕
You’re welcome. 🙂
Fan-tastic, Christine!
<3
David
Thank you so much David! ☺️💕
You carried the metaphor very well, loved your take on the prompt! 🙂
Thanks so much M Jay ☺️
Strong symbolism in broken flowers and broken trust.
Thanks Sadje ☺️💕
You’re welcome Christine
You comparison of flowers and personal relationships works very well in your poem!
Thanks so much Dwight ☺️💕
You are welcome!
Flower as metaphor for relationship works well here, Christine.
Thanks Lisa ☺️💕
You’re welcome 🙂 <3