dVerse Poets – Poetics – To Be A Flower
Linda at dVerse has invited us to write a poem about ourselves as a flower, what flower we do we most identify with? I have chosen a Spider Orchid.
Photo: One of the several types of Spider Orchid found in Western Australia, Leda Reserve, 2018.
“The orchids grow in the woods and they let out their fragrance even if there is no one around to appreciate it.” Confucius
Shred Of Life
Parched,
waiting for the sky to cry
and relieve my desiccated bones,
my rice paper skin,
a tenuous life in
an abundance of aridity,
the land of implausible possibility
where nature threatens its own
fragile existence so that
it won’t be disappointed
should its seed never smile
and celebrate a dawn,
yet here I am,
today, perhaps tomorrow,
a glorious struggle,
full of my colour
in a shred of life.
©Paul Vincent Cannon
Paul, pvcann.com
parallax 
That’s you all right, bro! 😊
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Ah, so nice to be “seen” thank you Ana.
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Beautiful
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Many thanks Susan.
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so true. Our life is a continuous struggle and pain dissipating through it colors it.
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Yes, amazing how we’re formed isn’t it, thank you Megha.
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You are most welcome, Paul
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What a beautiful poem Paul. And what a lovely flower.
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Thank you Linda, I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Yes, they are a beauty in a harsh landscape.
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I’ve never seen a flower like that before, I am sure it has been a struggle to survive the changing climate.
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Yes, these orchids are small and fragile in a harsh land, some years they don’t appear when there’s a drop in the rainfall or drought, and they have around a week to two weeks depending on the heat. Thank you for your reflection on this.
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shred of life, even in the cracks of life there’s poignant beauty, and you have captured the heartbeat of this living flower
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So appreciate your response Gina, thank you.
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There is something so delicate about a flower like that.. you have captured its soul I think
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I was really hoping to do that, I found this so thought provoking and a reflective experience. Really appreciate your response Bjorn.
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Nice line: “waiting for the sky to cry”
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Thank you Frank.
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Interesting choice I’ve never seen before.
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Thank you, glad to introduce you 🙂
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Yes, to this poem and the power of metaphor!
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Ah, thank you Liz, what a delightful response.
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Thanks!
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Paul, I really love your poetry. Just amazing. And this image of the Spider Orchid – sweet !
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Many thanks, so encouraging and much appreciated.
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I love: should its seed never smile
and celebrate a dawn
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Exquisite. Fragile. Earth.
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Thank yo ufos those encouraging words Tracy.
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My pleasure, Paul.
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The will to survive is perhaps strongest in the most inhospitable circumstances. I like the Confucius quote. He was a big one for pure altruism. Although I’m sure he was often disappointed, I admire his idealism. A melancholy poem, but glowing in the light of hope.
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Yes, tenacity will win through. Thank you Lisa, glad you liked it, and the quote too.
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You’re welcome.
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What a lovely tribute to such an unusual and beautiful looking orchid! 🙂
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Many thanks Christine, they really are beautiful.
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❤️
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Thank you
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HUGS xo
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Thank you 🙏
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A beautiful choice, Paul. Orchid is a very unique and beautiful, the “struggle” is behind its beauty. “a glorious struggle…” love it.
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They sure are amazing in surviving under such arid conditions. Thank you for sharing that Amy.
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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Thank you so much Charles
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Happy to share it!
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Beautiful, but the flower has a very extraterrestical shape. 😉
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I’m glad you noticed that, I’ve always thought so, a bit ET.
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😉
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Another sober reminder of our fragility
>
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Yes.
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