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capricorn wrote: ↑

16 Mar 2019, 18:06

Christmas Cactus

She faded at Yuletide
- left me orphaned.
I adopted her favourite cactus,
brought to cheer her
in the dreary ward,
took it home to nourish.

Trapped in mourning’s rut,
I neglected it.
Grief eased; I found the plant
desiccated, like my core.

Wilted with guilt
I teased encrusted roots
from sapless earth,
pampered it with fresh soil,
water and kindness.

To my surprise, cerise buds
now tip verdant leaves.
It's almost Spring, yet
her Christmas Cactus blooms.

An old one, once published, but the journal has now closed

Michael (MV) wrote: ↑

17 Mar 2019, 06:13

Belated Congrats, Eira

Not surprised it was published

I like how the plant parallels the person

And I like the finale, which is without end

I have always felt Spring to be the fulfillment of the Christmas promise

"It is done"


Music-video to celebrate -

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=98LaApCB4l8



Michael (MV)


Thanks for your comments Michael and the lovely video. Interesting thought that spring is the fulfilment of the Christmas promise - how true!

I'm glad you feel this is done. I have a number poems that were published in this journal over the years, before it closed and I am working through them with a view to submitting elsewhere now. Eternal Peacock is one of them, which needed quite a lot of work and I am grateful for all the workshopping help received here at WB.

Eira

capricorn wrote: ↑

16 Mar 2019, 18:06

Christmas Cactus

She faded at Yuletide
- left me orphaned.
I adopted her favourite cactus,
brought to cheer her
in the dreary ward,
took it home to nourish.

Trapped in mourning’s rut,
I neglected it.
Grief eased; I found the plant
desiccated, like my core.

Wilted with guilt
I teased encrusted roots
from sapless earth,
pampered it with fresh soil,
water and kindness.

To my surprise, cerise buds
now tip verdant leaves.
It's almost Spring, yet
her Christmas Cactus blooms.

An old one, once published, but the journal has now closed

Billy wrote: ↑

18 Mar 2019, 17:07

very good poem with a nicely understated message.