Tiptoe Through The Tulips

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

  34 comments for “Tiptoe Through The Tulips

  1. January 28, 2022 at 6:11 pm

    This is so sad, raw and true Christine!

    • Christine Bolton
      January 29, 2022 at 8:27 am

      Thanks so much Ingrid ☺️💕

  2. January 27, 2022 at 4:57 pm

    Love it 🙂

    • Christine Bolton
      January 28, 2022 at 8:22 am

      Thank you! ☺️

  3. January 27, 2022 at 12:22 pm

    The emotion in your beautifully crafted poem is palpable. Wonderful writing.

    • Christine Bolton
      January 28, 2022 at 8:21 am

      Thank you dear Helen ☺️💕 I hope you are doing well.

  4. Ain
    January 27, 2022 at 7:58 am

    I cannot deny the terrible sadness after reading your poem….even for the tulips first…..and then for the metaphors underneath…..powerful verse…

    • Christine Bolton
      January 27, 2022 at 9:04 am

      Thank you Ain. I appreciate it very much ☺️💕

  5. January 26, 2022 at 2:55 pm

    Christine, love this! You owned that line with this beautiful metaphor. ❤️

    • Christine Bolton
      January 26, 2022 at 5:05 pm

      Aww, thank you Punam ☺️💕❤️

      • January 27, 2022 at 9:38 am

        My pleasure. 💞😊

  6. January 26, 2022 at 2:00 pm

    The use of deflowered and that ending made your whole poem work as a metaphor for the way humans keep hurting each other.

    • Christine Bolton
      January 26, 2022 at 5:05 pm

      Thank you! I appreciate it ☺️

  7. sanaarizvi
    January 26, 2022 at 12:08 pm

    Oh that closing tugs on my heart, Christine! Gorgeously rendered 💝💝

    • Christine Bolton
      January 26, 2022 at 5:06 pm

      Thanks dear Sanaa! ☺️❤️

  8. Christine Bolton
    January 26, 2022 at 12:07 pm

    Thank you so much David! ☺️💕

  9. January 26, 2022 at 11:41 am

    Beautiful imagery!

    • Christine Bolton
      January 26, 2022 at 12:05 pm

      Thank you so much. I appreciate that ☺️💕

  10. January 26, 2022 at 10:03 am

    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’

    • Christine Bolton
      January 26, 2022 at 12:06 pm

      Thank you Linda! Wonderful prompt lines from you. Thank you ☺️💕

      • January 26, 2022 at 12:34 pm

        You’re welcome. 🙂

  11. January 26, 2022 at 5:11 am

    Words cannot be unsaid
    The previous night’s debris
    a sad reminder

    Fan-tastic, Christine!

    <3
    David

    • Christine Bolton
      January 26, 2022 at 12:08 pm

      Thank you so much David! ☺️💕

  12. January 26, 2022 at 4:02 am

    You carried the metaphor very well, loved your take on the prompt! 🙂

    • Christine Bolton
      January 26, 2022 at 5:08 pm

      Thanks so much M Jay ☺️

  13. January 25, 2022 at 10:39 pm

    Strong symbolism in broken flowers and broken trust.

    • Christine Bolton
      January 26, 2022 at 1:13 am

      Thanks Sadje ☺️💕

      • January 26, 2022 at 2:20 am

        You’re welcome Christine

  14. January 25, 2022 at 10:10 pm

    You comparison of flowers and personal relationships works very well in your poem!

    • Christine Bolton
      January 26, 2022 at 1:13 am

      Thanks so much Dwight ☺️💕

      • January 26, 2022 at 10:31 am

        You are welcome!

  15. January 25, 2022 at 8:40 pm

    Flower as metaphor for relationship works well here, Christine.

    • Christine Bolton
      January 26, 2022 at 1:12 am

      Thanks Lisa ☺️💕

      • January 26, 2022 at 10:01 am

        You’re welcome 🙂 <3

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