Saturday, June 15, 2013

Poetry Jam - It's All About Flowers "Guidance"


Guidance

Faith I found
by the ol' bog garden
wrapped in a lavender gown.
A show-stopper she
draped across trail's path,
nature's fleur-de-lis, displayed.

Sword-like guards
warned "Just admire",
so I sat and listened
to secrets softly shared
of truth-filled beauty,
promises of love,
and spirituals gently sung.

Wisdom comes in many forms
and grateful I'll always be
to have happened upon
this rainbow's drop
beside still waters
of the ol' garden bog.

by Margaret Bednar, June 15, 2013


This is linked to "Poetry Jam - It's All About Flowers"

I researched quite a bit about these spring flowers and I learned that the Iris was named for the Greek goddess of the rainbow.  Iris was the messenger of the god's and rode the rainbow to and from the Earth in her multi-colored robes.

The iris stands for many things: honesty, devotion, sophistication, sensitivity, loyalty, a bit of passion... and all the other things I mentioned in my poem.  The iris is the state flower of Tennessee.

The fleur-de-lis is a stylized iris which has been used for centuries as a symbol for royalty and is a symbol of France and appears on many coat of arms. 

11 comments:

Brian Miller said...

interesting bit of history on the flower...i was just in tennessee today....well bristol straddles the line....so i walked both sides...i like your quiet reflection there on the flower...the old spirituals...smiles..nice margaret...

Grace said...

Such lovely pictures ~ I particularly love your opening verse, a show-stopper, nature's fleur-de-lis
~ Thanks for the info on the flower too ~ happy weekend Margaret ~

Helen said...

The Iris ... was my mother's favorite flower! The detail in your photography is breathtaking .... the poem so lovely.

kaykuala said...

Great pics Marge! The process note is so informative,educating in fact. Thanks for sharing. Great write!

Hank

Vandana Sharma said...

Beautiful lines with beautiful flower:)

LilliJean said...

Margaret you are amazing! :)
I was immediately intrigued as the Iris has always tugged @ my heart strings when petals emerge....because it's my mom and her mom's favorite(!) both women of Tennessee (me too!)
Loved learning your researched facts as well. Beautiful camera work...heart-stirring words :)

Laurie Kolp said...

That first stanza took my breath away, Margaret... and I love the idea of secrets shared.

Unknown said...

Beautiful words and colors in your photos! I enjoyed the research you shared. I had never thought to look up the flower facts but now I"m intrigued to learn more!

Sarav said...

Hi Margaret!
I got there after the link expired--I'd been watching sunsets too :-) Your poem is beautiful and so are the photos! Love your research, now it makes sense that in Spanish, a rainbow is "arco de iris!"

Susan Lindquist said...

Aren't irises found in the wild so much more delicate than those found in cultivated beds? We have been finding yellow flag iris along the stream beds here in New Hampshire that are just lovely!

Ginnie Hart said...

The Greek goddess of the rainbow??? How appropriate...something I didn't know. No wonder it's my favorite of all flowers! :)