“I brought you these.
Anemones. From the garden.
Better last year“
blanched
blank faced
gone with the wind
my sentences tap out
coded conversation
– then a flicker
of recognition
“Japanese”
“Comes up like thunder Outer china..”*
Kipling and plantswoman buried deep and accurate
Notes: Japanese anemones (A. hupehensis) are native to China but cultivated in Japan.
*see “Mandalay” by Kipling
On this 6th anniversary at dVerse am squeezing in 44 words for the Monday quadrille “Flicker“
I liked the “Better last year” line and the flicker of recognition of a person who is now apparently ill.
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well spotted Frank – that was an accidental line that turned out just right
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“my sentences tap out
coded conversation
– then a flicker
of recognition”
I especially love these lines!
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ahh yes Lilian – speaking to the the elderly with memory loss is almost like sending morse code
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Isn’t it strange and wonderful what brings a person up out of the fog of forgetfulness! Minimalist, ink brush strokes on rice paper, this poem.
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loved this comparison Charley – thank you!
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You are welcome!
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After reading your comments I realized what I missed in that first read-through. Such a poignant moment, one I am so familiar with. It’s those tiny things that bring surprises, flickers of awareness.
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it is a subtle reference Victoria – and touches tender spots
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“blanched
blank faced
gone with the wind”—-This is so poignant. I have seen such a face in my life too. And it’s truly wonderful to gift such a person ‘a flicker of recognition’. A heartfelt poem Laura.
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those flickers are all of that is left of connection p.s. ‘gone with the wind’ – anemones are also called windflowers
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Love the disjointed nature of this piece. It adds to the dementia theme of your piece. Well done!
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glad the disjointed staccato tempo came across as intended Bryan!
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“my sentences tap out
coded conversation
– then a flicker
of recognition”
Beautifully poignant!
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Thank you – the quadrille format fitted these sad encounters
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Thank you for bringing us into the fog and then the flicker of recognition. Poignant.
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Nice way of putting it 🙂
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There and gone…there and gone…who knows what will flicker and when…well penned.
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Thank you Paul – Guess consciousness is a flicker we can only hope has a regular current until switch off!
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thunder Outer China.
I will remember that.
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Kipling’s one liner describes these Chinese windflowers well 😉
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Just gorgeous, Laura.
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that made my day – thank you 🙂
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