Said the Daffodil
to the Breeze,
“Pick my petals off like plums,
strip and peel
my stem with zeal;
uproot me,
boot me toward the sun.”
Said the breeze,
“My darling Daffodil,
I’d rather treat you fondly,
with caresses,
and the scent of fresh birds’ nests
to greet you warmly.”
“Are you meaning,”
she, the flower, replied,
“I’m only what I’m wearing?
That these fragile bones,
edible,
leave me worthless in the tearing?
Is there nothing left of me
when once you’ve plundered all my innards?
Am I wasted, am I useless in a use
that’s not aesthetics?”
“Daffodil,” replied he, warily,
“You certainly are pretty,
but of course, you know,
I also find your wit to be quite witty,
and the tales you tell are well-worth spells
of sitting, quiet, listening,
and the thoughts you think remind me
of the thoughts I’m used to thinking,
so of course there is much more to you,
but still,
what would remain,
if I rendered you dismembered?
Would your thoughts still be made plain,
if I gathered you from earth
and flung you, dripping, toward the heavens?
If I ripped and tore and weathered you,
and flung and cut and severed?
Darling,
sit quite still and sing for us,
and we’ll all be enamoured.
Stay tight in your place
and my embrace will block
thoughtless endeavors.”
But she wailed,
“How can I stay?
How can I simply be a marker,
for the ones who tread over these hills
to know they’re halfway farther?
I wish for more!
I wish to fly!
To see what comes hereafter!
In the great unknown,
where might my soul end up,
once I am slaughtered?
See, I’ve seen what can be done in this,
my current tethered state,
please undo me,
slice and ruin me,
now, toss me toward the gate!”
“Nay, I musn’t!”
said the breeze with many a
sad and wheezy bluster,
“Nay, I shan’t!”
he spun around the Daffodil
in all his fluster,
“Nay, nay, never!”
and he broke his path
and raced up toward the treetops,
til the sight of her alarmed him
and he retraced all his first steps,
and he roared toward the hillside,
but then back down to the orchard,
and he skimmed the foamy stream
and doubled back into
the barnyard.
“See, I’ve angered him!”
the Daffodil sat,
leaves folded up contently,
out in front of her as, wretched,
he continued,
and presently
blew too hard upon the very hill
where Daffodil was molded,
and she sighed as all her parts
became unraveled and unfolded,
and she gasped as she escaped the soil
and leaves and petals vanished,
and her stem was split right down the front
and landed near a radish,
(which turned,
and looking down its nose, said,
“Now you will be garnish.”)
“Oh, oh!” cried the breeze,
“Oh no!” for he
had turned into a wind,
and rustling in all the branches,
the birds’ nagging did commence,
and scratching over all the grasses,
fastening skirts onto legs,
he flurried noisily through courtyards,
ruffling and sweeping,
begged,
“Oh, Daffodil!
You made me kill you,
and you turned my pace much faster,
you are ruined, I am ruined,
you creator of disaster!
Why didn’t I mind my business!
Why didn’t I drift away?
Now I’m on a path to
purchase wrath,
as soon’s I hit the sea!
Daffodil,
you wicked flower!
Was this planned and where’ve you gone?”
And he wandered thus forever,
til forever ended,
gone.
Such a bouncy piece with energy
Excited and delighted me
I really enjoyed this. You have a great imagination. I love the rhymes and everything about it. Loved the radish.
Shrinks, that’s just so tragically beautiful beyond words!
I really enjoyed every moment of this poem! The mark of a powerful voice to be reckoned with.
This could/should be a children’s book. The illustrations would be amazing.
Oh, I like this
Thanks, John
Coming down with daffodils!!!
: )
Oh. wow. I sputter for a word to even describe how moving this is, and cannot find one in my dusty dictionary of a brain.
you are such a lovely girl. this means so much to me.
SHRINKS!!!!!!!!!!! You’re BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When everything crashes in, then I end up here…
well… I’m sorry to hear that! :p but you’re writing’s better than ever!
How I’ve missed your wonderful poetry. My reader is a happy place today!
That is so sweet. I keep planning on coming back…
oh, shrinks, this is delectable – tis true “the tales you tell are well-worth spells
of sitting, quiet, listening,”
i’m glad you liked it, Paul. you are so lovely.