Blue moonwort in the throes
of autumn: leathery leaves
hug earth, awaiting winter snows.
But with spring comes rebirth:
melt trickles down to rootlets,
sparking growth,
and a flame of energy ensues,
warming floral tissues,
melting ice-encased uprising buds.
Stems push up as water
flows to roots. Boring through
remaining ice
the moonwort blues
air, greets sun, entices bees.
Kim M. Russell, 4th April 2024

Image found on Wikipedia
On day four of Na/GloPoWriMo, we are challenged to write poems in which we take our titles or some language/ideas from The Strangest Things in the World, which was first published in 1958. It gives descriptions of odd natural phenomena, such as ‘The Self-Perpetuating Sponge’ and ‘The World’s Biggest Sneeze’. There are also quirky descriptions of luminous plants, monstrous bears and the language of ravens for inspiration. I used some ‘found’ phrases from ‘A Flower That Grows Through Solid Ice’.
Shared on Sumana’s flower prompt at What’s Going On? of 20th November 2024.
Nice post 🌹🌹
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Thank you, Satyam.
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Welcome dear friend 🌹🌹
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Beautiful!
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Thank you kindly, Rosemary!
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A small miracle of nature and poetry, Kim.
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Thanks so much, Dora!
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The magic of nature, beautifully explained in verses.
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Thank you so much!
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Lovely writing.
“But with spring comes rebirth:
melt trickles down to rootlets,
sparking growth,”
As we head into winter, I so look forward even now to the rebirth even now!
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Thank you, Mary. Me too!
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wow, moonwort is beautiful. I have never seen it. Just lovely, how you describe it, pushing its way up. Growing things are amazing.
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Thank you, Sherry.
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Moonwort’s “flame of energy” is beautifully captured. What power! Nature is almighty.
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Thank you, Sumana!
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So the moonwort is an allegory of life, in a way. I can see the entire journey.
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Thank you, Susan!
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Had not heard of this flower.. looks lovely, thanks Kim.
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The imagery is as sharp as icicles – a delight to read – Jae
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Thank you very much, Jae.
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Such a humble bloom, and yet so mighty in its way.
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The humble blooms are the best, Shay.
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“But with spring comes rebirth:
melt trickles down to rootlets,
sparking growth,
and a flame of energy ensues,
warming floral tissues,
melting ice-encased uprising buds.”
Such vivid imagery here… powerful and inspiring about the beauty of life itself and God’s creation!
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Thank you, Bing!
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Your poem speaks to me of the beauty of hope
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Thank you, Susie.
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Spring is filled with blooms of possibilities….its turning colder here and winter will soon arrive nothing in bloom here all is bleak and gray the colors of falls are gone. sigh..
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So beautifully descriptive of the resilience of moonwort blues.
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Thank you, Dora!
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A flower I have never seen before. They look like dancers.
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They do!
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