Blithe Spirit

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Sun, 08 Nov 2015
  • 2374 reads
6 comments
 
I bought a pack of poppy seeds;
prepared their bed so carefully,
but summer-long none showed.
 
Not one bonny, black-eyed face.  
Instead they grew, in a place
of their choosing, not of mine...
 
Amidst the shingle and the shale
where kindred seeds blithely fell;
where nothing else could survive,
they sprung alive. 
 
Nodding in the wind;
a barbed wire fence, no deterrent – still 
they multiplied in crimson splendour, 
 
saying, ‘Yes,’ to liberty – to freedom.
 
And still, they thrive; each year, each petal
different from the rest – no two the same, 
like those they represent.  
 
Never so true, as at the Tower of London;
the Weeping Window and the Wave – history now,
 
as those were represented there...each
name, proffered to the wind.  
 
The same wind took them with it, 
wheresoever it went, and, please, god,
we will remember them...
always.
Certificate PG
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Spiritual

Comments

Submitted by catherine poarch on

a lovely poem of remembrance, about the simplest of symbols. I love how the poppies have a life of their own.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thank you catherine.  Appreciated.

Tina

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Meadows of poppies are such a rare thing to see, so when they appear in your garden, it's such a joy, as is your poem Tina.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

How right you are, Jenny about those poppiessmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

The Tower display was so very effective wasn't it?

each year, each petal
different from the rest – no two the same, 
like those they represent. 

That is very effective, so easy to think each flower the same, so easy to forget the individuality of each when large numbers die. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Yes, Rhiannon...the Tower display was breathtaking, and really made the enormity of the losses much more real.  As you say it is easy to forget the individuality of those who fell.

Many thanks to you.

Tina