"Opium", A Poem

Photography courtesy of Fee Easton for One Stop Poetry

Opium

A scarlet dream is tempting me

So softly, gently it endures

Of memories, like potpourri

A scarlet dream is tempting me

My past, my love, this cannot be...

Eternally my heart is yours...

A scarlet dream is tempting me

So softly, gently it endures.

By Margaret Bednar, Art Happens, May 15, 2011

This is a triolet poem (at least I think I got the rhythm and form right...)   I very quickly made it up for One Stop Poetry's "One Shoot Sunday Poetry Challenge".  The guest interview was with Fee Easton, a photographer.  Usually only one photo is available, but she left several.  I chose the poppies and hope the poem makes sense.  (I focused on the opiate effect that the oriental poppies have.  The way I understand it, all others are only mildly sedative.)

(After posting this, I realized after reading comments that my "rhythm" was off.  My 2nd and last line used to be: "So softly and gently it lures"...  This rhythm and rhyme stuff is going to kill me!  

With this poem I tried to portray a hallucinatory vision, due to the drugs, of a past love materializing in front of the person's eyes.  Maybe I didn't succeed...  It is funny, because my husband hardly EVER gets any of my poetry and at times I feel like I must be just AWEFUL at this...  (He didn't understand I was referring to drugs, even with the title "Opium")  Granted, he isn't one for poetry nor does he enjoy it.  He was watching the Bulls/Heat game (Bulls won, yeah) while I worked on this.  (I don't really like basketball, but I usually do enjoy the MBA finals a bit).  Oh well, somehow opposites attract :)

I went to see the traveling Broadway musical "HAIR" tonight (a musical about hippies and the 60's) with my daughter (boy, did she get an eyeful).  So this poem fits right in!!  Ha, ha.

And the following is for "Macro Monday".  Click to see other amazing photographs.

"Grandmother's Journal" - a Triolet Poem, 167/365

My daughter picked some blooms Sunday from a flowering tree in our backyard and put them in a jar.  I asked her to set them on the patio table so I could photograph them... and look what I found.   We weren't the only ones enjoying their beauty.  Needless to say, she decided to leave the vase outside.  I have decided this is perfect for "Movement in March".  This is also for "Macro Monday".  Of course the above photos are also part of my "365 Photographic Journey"

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Over at One Stop Poetry, it is "Form Monday" and the featured poetry form is Triolets (Part II).   Copying from their site:  The features of the Triolet are: 8 lines.  Two rhymes.  5 of the 8 lines are repeated or refrain lines.  First line repeats at the 4th and 7th lines.  Second line repeats at the 8th line.  There is also a specific rhythm... Here it goes, again...

Grandmother's Journal

A century old, they still ring true,
These words of yesterday are dear.
'Tis faint and small these words in blue.
A century old, they still ring true.
A time of youth and deja vu,
Enlightened life at which I peer.
A century young, they still ring true,
These words of yesterday are dear.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens, 03-14-11

I have in my possession a box full of photos taken in 1916 when my grandmother, Marguerite Hutchins Beckington, and her friends traveled to Yellowstone National Park to work for the summer.  She was, I believe, 23 at the time and had just finished college.  I mentioned to my mom how I was copying and using Photoshop to restore and preserve these almost 100 year old photos.  My mom surprised me with saying she had a dainty size journal of my grandmother's youthful experience.  My job now is to pair up as many photos as I can with these precious words.  I had to laugh as my grandmother talks about dancing around the firelight and even missing a curfew once.  Truly insightful as I NEVER would have associated her with either!  I will be sharing this journal and accompanying photos as it nears completion here on my blog.

Abundant Love, another "triolet" poem, 160/365

Doesn't this have the feel of Easter?  So exciting to know Spring is just around the corner!

The above photo is for the "Creative Exchange".  Which is NOT about the perfect photo (as this one certainly is not) but about a feeling, a moment captured.  My kitty was enjoying smelling the flowers... I thought she was going to bat at them (see her paw?) but she behaved herself (for once).

I just read that if a cat ingests oriental lilies, it can lead to very serious consequences.  She hasn't nipped them yet, but I will shut these in my bathroom when I am not in the kitchen.  She hasn't paid them any attention since, but to be safe this will most likely be the last time I purchase oriental lilies.

Abundance is the prompt for the "March Challenge" and my mind went straight to my oriental lilies.  I thought I would try the poetry form "Triolet" again.  Please click HERE if you would like to know the detailed "rules" behind the madness.  However "simply" put:  eight lines in iambic meter (I did four stresses - iambic tetrameter - kind of like a heart beat) and the rhyming pattern is ABaAabAB.

Abundant Love

A pure and wholesome lasting love,
the oriental lilies' wish.
To honor beauty, my dear dove
A pure and wholesome lasting love.
I ask no more of God above:
abundant love, from my sweet Tish.
A pure and wholesome lasting love,
the oriental lilies' wish.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens, 3-8-11

I'm afraid I have about 100 more photos (and counting) of oriental lilies.  I read that the orange colored tips of the stamens should be removed as they stain the petals, clothes and furnishings.  I like them, but I did place them on my granite counter, so that helps.  I promise not to bore you with all of them, but I have a feeling I know what this week's theme will be!

The following photo is for "Movement in March".  It is one of the last decent archival shots of movement that I have.  I will have to get out and about with my camera and search for movement shots.  Of course, this was taken at Disney World (I'm never going back, and the memories are finally settling into a "happy" fog) ... doesn't she resemble a pink oriental lily?

"The Roses' Oath" a Poem, 158-159/365

The Roses' Oath

Please say your heart's forever mine!
The roses' beauty makes an oath,
desire or love and sometimes both.
An open yellow questions growth
of loyalty and loves' sweet wine.
The roses' beauty makes an oath
Please say your heart's forever mine.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 3-7-11

For one who loves (because I am lazy, I'm sure) free-verse this "Triolet" was a challenge for me and my very first quick attempt.  The pattern is described in One Stop Poetry's "One Stop Poetry Form" which is featured every Monday.  Please click on the sight to learn the counting (stresses) and rhyming structure.  (btw.. Ginnie! ... are my apostrophes correct? Grammar police, help! :)

I'm also submitting the above poem to "The March Challenge".  The prompt is:  nature.

The following close up is for "Macro Monday".  Can you smell the roses today?  :)