#bubbleburster

It’s National Poetry Month! Here’s one of mine: 

Flower Girl                                                                

 Simple appreciation of beauty

No rules, no restrictions, no judgement.

I loved all the flowers that appeared.

I stood near, or squatted down,

Or laid out in front on my stomach, so I could prop up my head and get a closer look

Of the whole miraculous creation.

The stem, and sepal holding the flower to the stem, the leaves,

The bloom with its vibrant colors, textures, patterns–

Even a solid color flower always had subtle variations.

And the center-

Oh my,

Like a whole world inside there!

The beauty and complexity

Left me inspired and filled with joy and hope!

 I never gave thought to a system of valuing blooms.

I never conceived of the idea;

That some may be unworthy of admiration

Because some appointed-

Or unappointed person decided to call them

Weeds!

The joy that every blossom brought was stored

Within my little girl heart.

And my time shared with these miracles of perfection

Was a stash of secret strength and magic-

A gift given only by flowers.

I rarely felt the need to harvest any flowers.

I knew I’d just return again soon  

To enjoy their fragrant potion and unmatched beauty.

 One day, as I was admiring some growing-taller white flowers with bright yellow centers

I was leaning in to admire the variety of how their petals

Decided to unfold.

Though they were all the same sort,

Each was her own special unique expression.

I was admiring how some leaned toward others and touched petals- holding hands.

Some decided to grow a bit larger and pushed taller, closer to the sun.

All accommodated visiting bees and seemed

Pleased with their royal guests.

And then…. a bubble-burster,

A rainer-upon-parades sidled up next to me,

Saying, “You know those are just weeds, right?”

Oh! the joylessness of the snobbish. They’ll never hear the laughter of flowers.