A Stranger on These Shores

Cherry

By luigi_pagano

Fri, 15 Mar 2019
  • 5063 reads
6 comments
 

The African violet is a perennial flower
that doesn't belong to the genus Viola
though It resembles our native plant
It's from Tanzania (some say Angola).
The propagation is commonly asexual;
most can be grown, from what I read,
from leaf cuttings of the original plant
but they're rarely produced from seed.

One specimen from that far continent
managed to find its way to the U.K.
and of that flower I'm the proud owner
which on a sill makes a nice display.
It was a birthday or a Christmas gift
that came inside a red terracotta pot.
It is much better if it is cared indoors
because outside cultivation is fraught.

I've now found out that that container
had been hand-painted by Clarice Cliff
Many pay good money for her pottery
while others at her ceramics will sniff
I don't really care about spondulicks,
I'll prevent them from being split apart;
that combination with its cheery hues
is more precious than any work of Art.

© Luigi Pagano 2019

Certificate U
Poem
Are you being versed?
Nature

Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

A beautifully mastered poem Luigi, this flower sure is a piece of natures art.

Jenny. xx

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Your kind words, Jenny, cheered me no end and were a boost to my morale.

Luigi xx

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

We had one a long time ago, and I seem to remember my husband had leaf cuttings in little clear-lidded old cream cheese pots, but I think eventually they did all die, but the flowers are delightful. Rhiannon

[should there be a  k in spondulics/spondulicks? I didn't know the word anyway, and the dictionary I tried put a 'ck', if you mean money]

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I knew someone who loved Clarice Cliff, it's collectable I think, DON'T CHIP IT!!! But her designs are so colourful I bet she was the kind of artist who would like her pots to be full of pretty flowers, enjoyed every day, not put in a glass case

Did you know that African violets like to be watered with the water you have boiled eggs in? Cooled down of course

I like how informally informative this poem is, like a friendly chat :0)

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

I love Clarice Cliff's colourful pottery but I have noticed that even some experts do not appreciate her work,
When I watch the antiques programme Flog It I am surprised at the low amount some of her pieces fetch at auction. 
I didn't know that African violets like to be watered with water eggs have been boiled in but was aware that water must be at room temperature.
I like the way you describe this poem as a friendly chat; my style leans toward clear, simple, poetry rather than wrapped up in metaphors.
Thanks for your feedback.

Luigi x

 

 

 

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hello Rhiannon, the Free Dictionary online gives both spellings as beloww:

Spon`du´lics    (spǒn`dū´lĭks)
n. 1. Money.

but to be on the safe side I have added a 'k', (the pronunciation does not change).
I suppose, that they need proper care to avoid their demise but sometimes no matter how much attention we give them something unexpected, such as a too high temperature, happens and they die on us.

Luigi x