I am a Middle Eastern beauty,
a migrant of the sixteenth century,
a gauzy turban of petalled secrets.
Some prefer me dressed in scarlet,
sprung from droplets of blood,
a ruby flood of perfect love.
My yellow flower’s glow is cheerful,
the power of my white’s forgiveness,
while my purple robe is royal.
My orb-shaped bulbs rejoice in soil;
they have driven men to madness,
caused tulip mania and sadness;
and my centre’s like a lover’s heart,
deep and velvety dark with passion.
I have never been out of fashion
and, gathered in the rainbow ocean
of the tulip fields, I am not a simple
blossom, but the epitome of charm.
Kim M. Russell, 18th February 2020
My response to dVerse Poets Pub Poetics: To Be a Flower, also linked to Poets and Storytellers United Writers’ Pantry
Linda welcomes us to Poetics this week with flowery drinks, a quote from Goldie Hawn, and poems from Emily Dickinson and Lisa Bellamy.
Linda says that she loves flowers and has a garden full of them – I’ve seen photos, and it’s gorgeous! She would like us to think about what flowers we most identify with, or our favourites, and write poems from their perspective. She has given us some questions to think about: How did the flower begin? What has it seen? How does it feel to be a flower? Where did it end? And a link to a website that list flowers from A-Z.
Oh, I love the way a tulip can be so many things with all its colors it’s dressed to the occasion. I hope to bring some of them in soon…
LikeLiked by 2 people
For such a simple, graceful flower, they have an interested and sometimes tragic history.
LikeLike
Lovely poem
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Jan.
LikeLike
Tulips are such mysterious flowers. I love the way their stems bend with such grace over a vase. Gorgeous Kim.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Linda.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have to admit I’m not a fan of tulips, but as cultivated flowers go, they have a long history, rather like auriculas. They certainly come in a plethora of styles and colours.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My favourites are purple and black ones.
LikeLike
Wasn’t there a massive amount of money and intrigue around the development of a black tulip? The Dutch got wound up about some strange things back then.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love tulips. Great depiction, Kim. And audio, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sarah. The history of tulips, especially in Holland, is fascinating.
LikeLike
You’ve honored tulips with your poem. I love them in groups. Every year there is a giant tulip festival about 50 miles from here (Holland, MI) I enjoy the mystical charm you’ve woven for them and it’s wonderful to hear it read aloud.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Jade!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here in WA state, we too have a tulip festival. In full bloom the multi-colored acres of tulips dazzle the eye. Photographs cannot capture their brilliance.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s amazing how many tulips festivals there are around the world.
LikeLike
I love tulips but, they only stay in bloom for such a short period of time. There is a tulip festival around here every spring. The crowds come out to view their vibrant hues.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved seeing the tulip fields in Holland. Tulips have such a fascinating history.
LikeLike
My favorite flowers too Kim. This line stood out for me: a gauzy turban of petalled secrets. Can’t wait to see them in spring season.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have some very pretty dwarf tulips, which I’m waiting to see blossom, but last year they didn’t last very long.
LikeLike
Tulip fields are charming. I like the melodic sound of your reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Frank.
LikeLiked by 1 person
i have long admired tulips and your poem is like a lover’s song Kim
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Gina. I love tul;ips!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My tulips have just this week appeared as tight buds. I can’t wait for them to open!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷
LikeLike
Enchanted by the idea of a flower driving men to madness. Thanks, this was lovely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading and commenting, Shaun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is beautiful Kim. Nice to hear your voice too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you V.J.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A phenomenal first stanza. I’ve not done much research into tulip mania, but it’s one of those interesting moments from history where ‘mania’ drives a country to the brink, and we look back on it as a warning, but we still dance with the same danger.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Carol. I’ve read a couple of novels set in the time of tulip mania, as well as some factual books. It’s fascinating and worrying.
LikeLike
Wow! You have really captured one of my favourite flowers. So happy by reading this. 🌹
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much! 😊
LikeLike
Oh, the passion of tulips in a rainbow of glorious colors…loved your reading, Kim!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Lynn!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love: my center’s like a lover’s heart
sounds so passionate!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sascha!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved this Kim! especially the gauzy turban …
I am a Middle Eastern beauty,
a migrant of the sixteenth century,
a gauzy turban of petalled secrets.
☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Christine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never had much to do with tulips, apart from seeing pictures of tulip fields in Holland, but you certainly make them sound incredibly gorgeous.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Rosemary.
LikeLike
My wife loved daffodils but Tulips were my favorite so we we didn’t discuss flowers in spring!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tulips have always been my favourite flowers.
LikeLike
Excellent words to match beautiful flowers. Enjoyed it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Anthony!
LikeLike
Enjoyed it too Kim.
Anna :o]
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Anna! 😀
LikeLike
Tulips are such elegant flowers and you do wonders to describe their perspective!💝 Especially love; “and my centre’s like a lover’s heart, deep and velvety dark with passion.” Woww!😍😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sanaa!🌷🌷🌷🌷
LikeLike
Gorgeous.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Shawna!
LikeLike
So beautifully written! Loved it.
LikeLike
Thank you so much!
LikeLike
The charm of flowers is their simplicity, and in many cases, their scent.
LikeLiked by 1 person
True.
LikeLike
The poem brings out the magic of gathered tulips and the reading was lovely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Wyndolynne.
LikeLike
Your poem is as luscious as a field of tulips!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Helen!
LikeLike
To consider the numbers in a field of tulips swaying in the wind. We have a tulip festival in Pella, IA and a rich Dutch heritage. Thank you for this image
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading and commenting, Joel!
LikeLike
Fine! I’m a Tulip Lover now. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Some stunning word weaving in this. You took an intriguing prompt in a mesmeric direction. A pleasure to read.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you kindly, Wendy.
LikeLike
I can certainly appreciate a bloom that knows herself–the good and the devastating–a bloom that understands (and shares) her history. And I agree, “simple” is not a word that comes to mind when I think about tulips.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Magaly. I can’t wait for the dwarf tulips in our garden to bloom.
LikeLiked by 1 person