It emerges like a blush
from variegated leaves,
a beauty hidden in a bush
beneath overhanging eaves.
Its petals radiate scarlet
and the whole plant exudes
the intoxicating scent of harlot,
earthy and a little rude,
with citrus zest and peppery hot,
a geranium blooming in a pot.
Kim M. Russell, 5th September 2019
My poem for dVerse Poets Pub Open Link Night, also linked to Poets United Poetry Pantry
After seeing a wonderful display of geraniums recently, I have reworked a poem I posted on 5th September 2016, which was originally inspired by a wonderful photograph taken by Paul Militaru. I’ve chosen a new image for it this time.
writing in north norfolk 
Oh that scent… the scent of harlot, what a great way to express that rude little flower.
I have a lot of them that I keep from year to year, and they are at their best at the moment…
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you, Bjorn!
LikeLike
“the scent of a harlot…” “citrus zest and peppery hot….” This fizzes with life – Great write, Kim
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Scott!
LikeLike
Hah! I never thought of the scent of a geranium as the scent of a harlot. Maybe a farmer’s wife with her hands in the dirt all of the tme. a lovely poem about geranmiums. I bring mine inside so they will last until I put them back out in spring, pinching off bits to root and make more. I like your short compact forms of poems so much.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Toni. I do like short compact forms and haiku.
LikeLike
You packed a lot into a small pot. I, too, liked the harlot analogy; sicky sweet and lust in the dust.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Glenn!
LikeLike
Geraniums are such a robust and showy plant and you’ve described them so well. They’ve developed a lot of variations in the colors, scents, and vining ability, I love them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Jade. Sadly, we can’t grow them in our garden.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome. They grow better in hanging baskets here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great poem.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks!
LikeLike
No doubt its scent is intoxicating! ❤️ I love the descriptions “earthy and a little rude, with citrus zest and peppery hot.” Wow! 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Sanaa! 😉
LikeLike
lol one of my mothers favourite flowers .. like a harlot describes it well 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love how you have extracted so much dazzling detail and caused me to take a closer look at a flower that is so commonplace around me, I hardly take note of its brilliance. I think we do this with a lot of the most important stuff of life. Thanks for the reminder, Kim!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for your kind comment!
LikeLike
Nice description: “the intoxicating scent of harlot,
earthy and a little rude”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Frank!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoyable poem. I sometimes forget the beauty of geraniums.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you!
LikeLike
ha – I may never look at geraniums the same way as now I will see a harlot. Very Clever
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙂
LikeLike
I love that hot intoxicating scent of the geranium.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I didn’t like it as a child, but I’ve grown to love it. I’ve had geranium scented candles, which are lovely.
LikeLike
Each image is a gem and they fit together like a puzzle. (K)
LikeLiked by 2 people
What a lovely comment, Kerfe! Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This description is a rich and zesty bouquet Kim… 🙂 I have never liked their fragrance, but you express it well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Rob. Geranium scent is an acquired taste (smell!).
LikeLike
I enjoyed this vivid and creative poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
LikeLike
What a gorgeous poem – it flows so richly and easily
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Jae!
LikeLike
I love how it goes from modest blushing maid to full on Lady Marmalade in an instant, LOL. What a terrific personification of an unbashful bloom!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Rommy!
LikeLike
I love the mix of scarlet and harlot!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Colleen!
LikeLike
Ha, the geranium as harlot is unexpected, and pleasing. She is a hardy wench. I have one on my deck, sturdy and stoic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d love one in our garden but it wouldn’t survive.
LikeLike
Garden poetry holds a special place in my heart. And when it reads like a recipe, then it goes into my soul too. I love the rhythm, the colors, the tastes that grow out of your poem. And that perfect bloom you end with is such a gift.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pots of virtual geraniums coming right at you, with thanks and best wishes, Magaly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
This made me laugh. And side-eye my geraniums. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLike
You captured both the innocence and decadence of this beautiful flower. Lovely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Viv!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
After reading this poem, I’ll never look at my geraniums in the same way again. Harlots, all of them! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁
LikeLike
Beautiful. I love poems that take something from the garden and help us look at it in a new way. This time I am impressed with the way you caused me to SMELL the geranium. Well worded.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Mary!
LikeLike
A poem which chugs seamlessly to that penultimate line — my oh, my, what a gorgeously delivered punch.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Cheers Brendan!
LikeLike
i like the rhythm of your piece here. it makes me wanna dance!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much!
LikeLike
Love it! Love the cadence … Love the detail … And that scent … ‘earthy and a little rude,’ … I LOVE … LOVE … LOVE!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Wendy!
LikeLike
I wondered why I liked them so much…now I know. I always prefer to see flowers growing the ground rather than being cut, put in a pot and plonked indoors and hidden from the sun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree, Robin. I’m not keen on bringing plants and flowers indoors. However, geraniums would never survive in our wild garden.
LikeLike
Oh, I do love those Geraniums and I will never “taste” their scent in the same way again. Brilliant descriptions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Victoria.
LikeLike
Thank you so much for this great little poem about a flower I’m very, very fond of. I always have them growing, and they are blooming anew in our Spring at present. You’ve summed them up perfectly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind comment, Rosemary.
LikeLike
Wow Kim! This is a fav for me now. We find full new little corners filled with all sorts of life everywhere round us don’t we?! That little flower, so ubiquitous, hanging from every building in the Bernese Old Town… Right next to the Holy Ghost Church. Splash of color and that smell, reich and verdant and unabashed, maybe the smell of the harlot, but not the prostitute, this little flower will not be owned by anyone but the bees, she dances on her terms, it is the really the musky lovely smell that completes it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person