Bindweed

( Can anyone remember Listen With Mother)

some might name them

convolvulus

which is a tad too posh

for my London liking

though i call them

morning glory because

of those pure white trumpets

heralding each new day 

raising their necks to face

the sun

delicate skirts tell a story

of how i as a child of six

was told bindweed was

not a real flower it was

no more than a common

weed

but little weed was a friend

was she not? who sat between

BIll and Ben who were 

protective garden pots

i was very fond of her

on children's half hour

she was the only flower

in my garden

backyard out of bounds

nothing grew there

in the shadow of arches

blackened by smog

whenever i see her climbing

i can not fail to smile

across the years and

country miles

she in all her innocence

reminds me of a much

younger me

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I always called them Morning Glory as well, but this is more than that...this is watching a grandchild grow with each new day...each new morning...she gets a little older and reminds the speaker just a little bit more of what she was like in her youth.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Jacob, I really like where you went with this poem. Thank you so much.

Chris

[augustus]

I hate the stuff! It gets everywhere and at one time there was more bindweed than raspberries. a blessed childhood memory it might have been but to us adults, it's a pain in the arse! A very descriptive piece nonetheless!

[Chris Shaw]

Oh dear augustus, those white trumpets have taken over your raspberries. Now that is certainly a sorry state of affairs. I like raspberries probably more than I like bindweed. Thank you for the smile and your visit :))

Chris

[augustus]

Not very sexy is it?

[Chris Shaw]

Sadly not :)

[h d e rushin]

i was reminded by my neighbor that the wild flowers i planted in early spring that look like a mashed together, compromise of counterirritant greens, will bloom soon into a rush of warm colors as if speaking. Flowers are mutable and supernaturally capable of exchanging disorder into plain woven sheer. I love morning glories/ great image making...dana

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Dana. Morning Glory, the first bloom I ever recognised and it was a weed :))

[Einstein Noodle]

simply beautiful ..i do recall seeing these flowers, the white ones, in Upstate NY when I was young. boys are boys and we never paid any attention to them .. you have such a wonderful memory connected to them don't you Chris ... i do believe that you actually named those two pots ... or was it your Gram .. having fun with you? ;) i read it through once knowing i would have to look up Bindweed and convolvulous (which i thought was some sexual reference) ;)))))))))) they are delicate .. the vines are delicate if i recall correctly ... your images and language are sublime in simplicity ... a child's half hour .. never ever near enough time out for play in the yard ... mine were quite noisy with all the kids .. Catholic School an all ... we had two large Chestnut trees that grew waaaaaaaaaay down the hill which no many went down as all play centered near the school building .. but my and my buddys collected chestnuts when they dropped .. great for throwing while in the gnarly husk .. or for breaking open to see that beautiful smooth chestnut brown nut inside .. sometimes twins .. twice the excitement!! what joy childhood is for most ... for some not the case .. but i dare say most .. "Bindweed" ...a memory that combines several to the same flower i am sure .. a joy to read .. the "...arches
blackened by smog" ... are stark in an otherwise "garden spot" made so by ....weeds :)))))
E.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Mr E for this lovely review. Weeds were special to me when there were no flowers in my garden. The flower pots Bill and Ben were children'"s television programme characters. They really were flower pot men and little weed another character grew between the two of them. How I loved that programme when I was little. So pleased you enjoyed this read. Hope all is good with you. Little boys were far too busy playing with dinky toys to notice flowers :))

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

ahhhhh... sounds like a pretty fine show ...i was thinking you were out for a break from school after lunch ... i like your new avatar by the way! :)

[emmajoy]

Strange thing about weeds, so many of them are base cures. They don't cost anything but, like your convolvulus are lovely homes for flitting visitors. They last for ages but can be kindly controlled if wanted.. Your heart shows so keenly, i know cos i love them too and have since little: reminded me of a ballerina in a tutu for ages - loved ballet, so, o for a while, wanted to be called convolvulus but couldn't even say it!! Can;t now when i come to think of it and had to learn how to spell it, eve now.

There's something about this cafe, from out of words come not merely those interested in the All About but gardener. So love that, just as i love your poem.. so girlish perfect.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Em. The little pink ones were like ballet skirts. I liked them too, but the white trumpets were best of all. I still love them.

Chris

[emmajoy]

Me too! Forgive, far too long a bit about me and tutus up there ^ but was so surprised you eulogising about that plant that am not going to try to spell so early-ish in the day. So hope your Sunday is a beautiful one. Waving up and around.x

[Jimmy Yetts]

Tea, gardens, a quirky sense-of-humor, love of royalty and identities grown from ancient roots--
English women are made of these.
A masterfully constructed, metaphorical piece of work!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Jimmy for that very thoughtful review. Well observed I would add.

Chris

[a]

Your poem narrates the beauty that hides behind the little things. The poet's eyes are more sensitive to enjoying the subtleties of life. It was a pleasure to read it.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for your charming review. Most appreciated.

Chris

[AJNJ]

The minutest of things under the sun has its own significance on earth. To some a weed yet to you something so reminscent of the days of childhood & youth in all their glory and innocence. In that, this little weed becomes more majestic than a rose. This poem is a beautiful example of how personal meanings & symbolism play such an important role in our lives.

[Chris Shaw]

Such a welcome anf thoughtful review Pestonjee. Much appreciated. I thank you

Chris

[AJNJ]

Always my delight, Ms. Chris! Most welcome.

[John the Baptist]

A recollection of the past triggered by the memory of certain flowers. Our pasts are ever embedded in our minds, like computer banks, ever ready to be activated by the simplest things. Some of those recollections are pleasant, others not so much, but they are all part of us and should be accepted as such.

[Chris Shaw]

Yes my memory bank is overflowing at times, but it holds many riches for me thankfully. I appreciate your valued visit John. I am fortunate to not have too many memories I want to keep below the surface.

Chris

[R.E. Ray]

Chris, this illustrates so well how we can draw inspiration from nature, especially the little wild things many dismiss or exclude from higher company. The theme of the small being significant (though often out of sight or underestimated) resonates with me, too. Great poem with an ideal, humble ending.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Robert. Nature is never far away when it comes to my poetry. I appreciate your thoughtful review.

Chris

[R.E. Ray]

You’re welcome, Chris.

[Lale]

Storytelling suits you best, dear Christine.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Lale. Pleased you like my poem stories. All good wishes.

Chris