Helleborus Orientalis (Pretty Ellen)

(a garden reprieve)

sub zero temperatures at night

exposed your fragile heart

left you coated in ice crystals

dying in daylight's dreary cold

that moment was mourned

a reminder that all things pass

that living things don't last forever

that pleasure has no permanency

your fate attracted my sadness

until warmer days prevailed

life sailed back into limp leaves

the stem of you stood proud

your flowers resembled those

of a wild rose with a new lease

and for a while earlier shadow

was eclipsed by your blooming

Reviews

[lightsong]

"sub zero temperatures at night
exposed your fragile heart" love these tenderly gorgeous lines, they darw us into your feelings and moments, that's the cycle of life, birth, death and rebirth, even the smallest creatures have this. Like always, wonderful used of words, amazing flow and rhythm.

[Chris Shaw]

So encouraging are your kind words lightsong. Thanking you for your continued support.

Chris

[lightsong]

You are warmly welcome my dear Chris 💖 Happy Wednesday 🌸🌼🌸

[Haley]

This is a beautiful poem! This line, "that living things don't last forever that pleasure has no permanency" is amazing and something that I ned to remind myself often. Overall, a great poem that I've already re-read a handful of times!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Haley for your visit and leaving such an encouraging review. Most appreciated.

read moreThank you Haley for your visit and leaving such an encouraging review. Most appreciated.

Chris

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

life sailed back into limp leaves....Life always does, dear Chris! It just sails back in...An unforgetable line for me. I know of the seasons of joy and pleasure you are speaking of in this poem of amazing beauty...I know of their impermanence and I also sense the resilience of nature and of the spirit in your words. As are the flowers of the field, so are we and our lives! Kudos on such beauty of words and thoughts, my friend!

[Chris Shaw]

Your reviews are always so thoughtful and interesting Ditzy. You are a treasure. Thank you so much.

Chris

[Weeping willow]

Beautiful expression as my mind seeps into your words ;-]

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Weeping willow for checking in and reviewing this poem. You are appreciated.

Chris

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Chris... extraordinary poetry... it is written
in the Stars... that fall to enrich our lives with
serendipity. gently, Pat

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Pat for your kindness. You are a breath of fresh air with your reviews as well as your own poetry.

Chris

[Harmony Lee]

I love especially the lines "your fate attracted my sadness // until warmer days prevailed". I suppose this is the turning point of the poem, the origin of hopeful rebirth, and I am a sucker for anything in the realm of rebirth / reincarnation / resurrection. Thank you for sharing.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanking you Harmony Lee for all your reviews of my work. I will respond to each one. Like you I have a thing about rebirth. I am fascinated with plants and trees that burst forth with new life in spring, after looking dead to the world. This plant really looked as though it was dead. A lovely surprise to find it had survived to bloom again.

Chris

[Delmar Cooper]

A poem about the Lenten Rose early into Lent. Appropriate , and good choice of flower, as Beccy so eruditely pointed out. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[Chris Shaw]

And I thank you most warmly for your visit Delmar and the response you have left for me. All good wishes.

Chris

[Beccy]

Interesting choice of flower. Beautiful and mostly symbolizing serenity and tranquility, but also scandal and anxiety; with roots known to be extremely poisonous. Quite a mix and a bit like our own species really.

Love the way you draw the comparison twixt the perennial life of the little flower and the impermanence of our three score year and ten.

Beccy.

[Chris Shaw]

So pretty the flowers on this plant Beccy. Many thanks for your interesting information. I have learned something new today. All good wishes to both you and yours.

Chris

[Dave Brown]

Can we still pretend ?

[Chris Shaw]

You can pretend if you want to Dave. Today was very spring like. Good gardening weather. I take it you are still using that shovel?

Chris

[Dave Brown]

Snow still on ground but brightening up

[Chris Shaw]

More promising then.

[James]

We've got it pretty good here (not frozen) but it'll be a while before any stems poke through the ground. Cool poem, kind of wishful for Spring. I like it.

[Chris Shaw]

Warmer temperatures here. Bulbs are coming through. A definite sign that the season is changing. Many thanks for your visit James.

Chris