I wrote the following poem after doing some yardwork. I guess it is my version of "take time to smell the roses." In this case, it's lilacs.
I Never See the Lilacs
I never see the lilacs bloom
though they grow in my backyard.
Orange lilies burst upon the scene
yet they don't catch my eye.
The daffodils can wave and wave,
but they'll get no reply.
All this unfolds so close to me,
it seems impossible to miss.
But it's easy to overlook what's near
when you're focused on what's next.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Labels:
Lilacs
I am a poet and photographer who likes sports, jazz and art inspired by other art. I served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the early 1970's and was assigned to the Computer Sciences School in Quantico, VA. I have published a chapbook of grief poems, I Keep You with Me. My work also has appeared in publications such as Thorny Locust Magazine, core. zine,The Enigmatist, Veterans' Voices and Kansas Time + Place An Anthology of Heartland Poetry. My visual art pieces combine poetry and photographs, and have been most recently displayed at InterUrban ArtHouse, Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, Buttonwood Art Space, and The Smalter Gallery.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Oooh, so true! True about many aspects of our lives, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking this up with the TALU, Michelle!
Writing has helped me see so many of the interesting things that are in my life everyday if I just take a little time to notice them.
DeleteI love it! And you're so right that it's easy to overlook what's near when you're focused on what's next.
ReplyDeleteTALU
Thanks, Kristi, and thanks for stopping by from TALU.
DeleteExcellent. So when you are outside like that, do you have a notepad handy or does it come to you later?
ReplyDeleteThis one came later, Kenya, but I like the idea of having a notepad and pen among my gardening tools! TALU
DeleteSooooooooo true! I'm very bad about that. It's sometimes actually scary - I'll be driving somewhere and suddenly think about where I am only to realize that I've already crossed a bridge or negotiated a rotary or something that I wasn't even aware of. It's like we get set on auto pilot. Have to disagree with you about the lilacs though - I don't get to see those because my brother-in-law and nephew keep mowing over them!! LOL
ReplyDeleteOuch, maybe they need to slow down a little bit! Thanks for stopping by from TALU, Chris.
DeleteI love this, Michelle! Too true. Of course I thought of the Whitman poem when I read about the lilacs, Wordsworth with daffodils, tiger lilies...Ms Emily, of course. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/30/arts/design/30dickinson.html?_r=0 Talu-ho!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lara. I consider Ms. Emily my Guardian Poet. TALU
Delete