autumn crocus mixes up a muddle of metaphor
for the epithet is more vernal than Michaelmas
as Liliales by birth, the flower too is misconstrued
true to form six purple petals spring devoid of foliage
aged in the corm each cupola tips the balance of its ivory tube
bella donnas binding with briars against an October gale
allegedly dames sans chemise and alien escapees
esteemed by monastery; meadow saffron though a home-grown poison
only a fabulous feasting for eyes in an emptying season
Note: Colchicum autumnale is Meadow Saffron and often confused with the other ‘naked lady’ Crocus nudiflorus – and different again from autumn flowering crocuses
In the imaginary garden, Kerry invites up to 12 lines of Micro Poetry with the reference: “Binding with briars“- and though poisonous am offering this too for the Poetry Pantry
I admire the image of belladonnas binding with briar to withstand the October gale.
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stretching the scene a little there as these flowers prefer meadows but are uprooted from pastures as poisonous to grazers so they make do with woodland edges where the briars most likely grow!
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Such stunning images in this one, Laura!❤️ Especially love; “true to form six purple petals spring devoid of foliage aged in the corm each cupola tips the balance of its ivory tube bella donnas binding with briars against an October gale.”❤️
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thank you Sanaa – they are a stuninng sight for sore eyes
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I love how the poison and the thorns conspire for October… there is contradiction and essence in the fall….
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after the blackberries, it’s a poisonous time of year! these flowers congregate in naked huddles and they look as though they need shelter from the briars.
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The title belies the complexity of these lines. The unseasonal crocuses, the poisonous blooms all create a heady mix in this Ode to October. i so enjoyed the read.
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and the title reflects the paradox of this poisonous mix! thank you for the prompt which prompted this poem Kerry
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Enjoyed reading this. I love flowers, though I don’t know their names.
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Takes time to get to know them!
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Delightful bursts of seductive colour throughout…painted good enough to eat…but beware!
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Beware these naked ladies Paul
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Always Laura. Always.
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A poem to be read and savored and read again. Each time brings more meaning!
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Thank you for such a very nice commendation Mary
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Once again, your imagery is painting beautiful word pictures in my mind. Thank you!
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As always I thank you for your constant appreciation -Beth- beautiful name too
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You have the most beautiful way of describing a flower Laura…I love all the autumn crocuses as they add a bit of color and a flash back to spring…a perfect name meadow saffron and my favorite line is, ‘only a fabulous feasting for eyes in an emptying season’….oh yes they certainly are!
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The orange anthers resemble those of the saffron crocus but unlike c. nudiflorus not suitable for the kitchen. Thank you – as gardener you surely feast on such as these
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bella donnas binding with briars…. so pretty!
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Thank you was pleased how the prompt slotted in there – Using the term Bella Donna loosely as needed a ‘be’ word as was matching end and first line letters in this poem!
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Went back and read it again, looking for the repetitions… that is super hard to do!!!
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glad the patterning was not too noticeable – challenging to do but it also helped me write when I was rather stuck
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Love this floral poem. A feast of words.
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Many thanks for your pantry offering too
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Fascinating! Neither grows here. Our ‘naked ladies’ are aka Belladonna lilies, and are large and white (very beautiful). Their name suggests that they too are poisonous, as there is a belladonna which is a poison – but I don’t know that these lilies actually are.
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I know those lilies and meadow saffron belongs with the lily family despite its familiar name. Belladonna refers to the atropine poison which added to Victorian ladies’ eyes dilated the pupil to make them beautiful ladies – Bella Donnas – so I have used the term here because these naked ladies are a beautiful sight!
Belladonna refers to our ‘deadly nightshade wildflower growing in hedgerows – as children we were always being warned not to eat the berries- shows what foragers children used to be – now they turn their nose up at wild blackberries from the briar!
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Gorgeous image and I love the poem, Laura!
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thank you Kim – the photoart is an important part of my poetry
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Eye candy… We look for the brightly easy to visually digest while our minds spin on that which burns us into despair.
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interesting point Susie – is that why we seeks solace in fall/autumn colours knowing it is the emptying season?!
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beautiful… “emptying season”…. only so we can fill up once again.
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thank you Margaret – yes we burst in Spring
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Love the beauty, the poison, and the briars. A fine contradiction, Laura. Well done!
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indeed a contradictory combination Sarah – thank you
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