Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Still Growth

You stare at me from the picture frame
tongue stuck out, eyes like fire
through crystal.

I look down at my hand
dandelions hang their sun burst heads
now that they’ve been pulled
from a bed once filled
with petunias pink as
bubble gum.

But I haven’t been thinking about flowers
and have neglected my green thumb.
I know you would call that
sacrilege
but things still grow.

I put the dandelions in the vase
next to your photo stick my tongue out
at you.

© 2011 Joanne Elliott
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21 comments:

  1. TashtooOctober 18, 2011 at 2:08 PM

    Fun! I've been known to put dandelions in vases...and I've been known to do it for sheer spite! Things do still grow...all too well! Yet another wonderful, weave Joanne. Is it bad I'm still smiling?

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  2. Joanne Young ElliottOctober 18, 2011 at 2:10 PM

    I like that you're still smiling. Thanks Natasha!

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  3. DaydreamerOctober 18, 2011 at 2:18 PM

    LOL I guess that's what you can call payback?
    Made me smile, thank you :)

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  4. UnknownOctober 18, 2011 at 2:19 PM

    I found this poem to be cheerful... the end did make me smile.. nice write

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  5. Dulçe ♥October 18, 2011 at 2:41 PM

    Sacrilege he'd say, yes.Hey but still you bring them flowers!

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  6. ClaudiaOctober 18, 2011 at 2:51 PM

    oh i like the petunias pink as
    bubble gum... great image...and yes...i'm smiling as well..

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  7. AnonymousOctober 18, 2011 at 3:48 PM

    At first, I'll admit, I took a sad tone away from it...a second read-through, however, revised my initial interpretations. A smile, and a tongue, silliness and life - immortalized.

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  8. Brian MillerOctober 18, 2011 at 4:38 PM

    ha i like dandelions....kinda playful with the person in the pic and your response to them...your own life now...

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  9. Joanne Young ElliottOctober 18, 2011 at 5:54 PM

    Cianphelan, when I wrote it I felt this was a conflicted relationship. There may be some sadness and there is certainly play. The reader brings what they will.

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  10. UnknownOctober 18, 2011 at 7:03 PM

    I remember my 4th grade teacher pulling me aside and asking me to discreetly dispose of dandelion gifts collected at recess. AT the time, I felt honored she trusted me to keep her secret. Now, it seems kind of mean, lol. Wonderful poem, and I can see the conflict there for sure.

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  11. ayalaOctober 18, 2011 at 7:05 PM

    You made me smile :)

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  12. AnonymousOctober 18, 2011 at 8:08 PM

    A picture of him sticking his tongue out? I think that is the feeling the subject gets from seeing his picture...... And she resents him, resents that she has spent her time fretting over that instead of spending it in the garden, and resents that he would find that a sacrilege. Yes, I would stick my tongue out too, as I tossed the picture, fame and all, into the rubbage.... great play on emotion here Joanne.......

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  13. SheilaOctober 18, 2011 at 8:52 PM

    things do keep growing although what grows does change doesn't it? nice metaphor.

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  14. Ann LeFloreOctober 18, 2011 at 10:35 PM

    Ouch I love this stick out my tong at you such a great ending and so well done keep smiling and I know things keep growing
    http://gatelesspassage.com/2011/10/18/farewell-my-three-legged-friend/

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  15. rallentandaOctober 19, 2011 at 3:22 AM

    No pink petunias for this bloke
    Dandelions..yes, a good choice

    The French call them pissenlit
    means piss in the bed
    ...another good choice!

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  16. hedgewitchOctober 19, 2011 at 5:39 AM

    I like the way this one layers--subtle but sure, and the point is sharp and inserted with a skillful, devilish twist. We have a long stemmed sort of dandelion here that we let grow up in the ditch and leave unmowed because its beautiful. Great descriptor on the petunias.

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  17. AnonymousOctober 19, 2011 at 10:57 AM

    But I haven’t been thinking about flowers
    and have neglected my green thumb.
    I know you would call that
    sacrilege
    but things still grow.

    I found these lines so impactful. Like Chris I felt both amused and sad together. Great write.

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  18. UnknownOctober 20, 2011 at 4:55 AM

    touching piece, finding the beauty in the absence of what once was is how we grow. Love dandelions, nice to see them in your words! ~ Rose

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  19. Maxwell Mead Williams Robinson BarryOctober 20, 2011 at 7:59 AM

    honest and touching,

    love your style of expression.
    smiles.
    :)

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  20. AnonymousOctober 20, 2011 at 9:57 AM

    Yes, my garden grows without me at present while I work 7-day weeks, so I know the feeling. Also feel the metaphor of the price I pay for not cultivating my inner garden and sticking my tongue out at the world and all its demands. Thanks for the reminder!

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  21. steveroniOctober 23, 2011 at 2:42 PM

    My Great-Grandmother (German) made "Dandy-Lion" soup--Soooo Good. Especially during illness. Every time we went to her house, I got sick--grin!!!!

    As for you last comment (just above this one?) YEP! cultivate that inner garden, stick out your tongue at the world and "...LET THE WHIRLING DERVISHES WHIRL!"

    PEACE!

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