Poetry Friday round-up is at Books 4 Learning
I dedicate this post, a prose fairy tale poem in three parts, to my writing friends Tara Smith, Kimberley Moran, and Julianne Harmatz. We spent the week together in upstate New York laughing, eating, drinking, touring, shopping, and oh yes…writing. These verses were inspired by Petal People notecards by Martha Starke.
I. Julianne
Once there was a girl from Los Angeles
with a head of curly hair.
She walked the hills of New York state
gathering wild flowers–
verbena, hosta, bleeding heart,
Johnny-jump-ups, bridal wreath–
placing them all in a clear glass jar.
The flowers captured sunshine,
the wild air of summer.
She looked at the flowers in the center of the breakfast table,
and smiled a sneaky smile.
She found the key to happiness–
Gather wildflowers in a glass jar.
You will have sunshine every day.
II. Kimberley
There once was a girl from Maine
who walked the hills of New York state,
looking for something, though she knew not what.
She picked up a wreath of wild flowers
arranged in the shape of a heart.
This heart of hydrangea petals
surrounded by Queen Anne’s lace
touched her very own broken heart.
She hung the wreath on her own front door
to show the world and herself
that this was enough.
III. Tara
Once a girl from New Jersey
walked all the way to New York
searching for wisdom,
(perhaps words on a bumper sticker),
a message for the secret of life.
On a bedlam farm,
dirty from long disuse,
she met a man selling seeds.
He told her to plant this tiny seed,
(so small she could hardly see),
water it every day, speak in a soft voice.
The seed will grow into the finest of flowers
more beautiful than hollyhocks.
One day when the sun rose
& the fog lifted,
she saw the flower,
finer than anything imagined,
and she said, “It is good!”
Margaret Simon, all rights reserved,
with incredible respect and love
for the gift of time that is born at a farm in New York
Reflections on the Teche 
And love each other we did. Captured beautifully Margaret. xxxooo
Loved every moment. Thank you for your gift of words and wisdom.
What a lovely time we’ve had – thank you for the poem, and all the memories. Cannot wait for a reunion!
Your fairy tale poem is a beautiful tribute to your week together and the relationships that you nurtured – “water it every day, speak in a soft voice.” Thanks so much for sharing.
What a joyful, loving poem obviously inspired by a joyful, loving time together. So happy you were able to share this time together — and to share it with us, as well! xo
Sounds like a magical time! So happy for you… almost jealous! But no. I’m really overjoyed to know that writers and bloggers can meet and share special times! These poems are quite special with lots of delicate seeds of thoughts.
Sounds wonderful. In person time is so much more precious than virtual. Good for all of you for making it work out.
There’s never time enough to do all that we can do, but all of you made this work together, and now you’ve captured it beautifully, a memory treasure. So glad that it happened in that special place, with special people, Margaret.
Lovely, lovely! Thank you for sharing your magical memories in your wonderful “prose fairy tale poem.”
Sounds like the four of you had a really special time, and you captured it beautifully!
Appreciations for letting us peek into a trip that sounds nourishing & fun, via these thoughtful poems. Also, love the spectacular Queen Ann’s Lace photograph.
Sounds like you were all planting seeds and reaping sunshine!
What a magical window that opens up your week to the world
😍
Sounds like you all had a blast!
Lovely poem sequence to capture these portraits of friends and nature.
What fortunate friends
I think “the key to happiness” wasn’t just the flowers. Time with good friends to talk and laugh, to walk and ponder, to write and connect are the true keys to happiness. So happy that you all had such a wonderful time together!
Goodness–what a time you must have had! Were you at Tara’s farm? So good to get away in good company, isn’t it? I feel the meanings that rise up from your fairy tales like steam that only these friends can breathe….
Lovely tribute to what looks like a lovely time. Thanks for a peek at creative time spent among like-minded friends. =)
Margaret, your poem is a great tribute to a group of ladies of whom you have great respect. Your time together sounds like magical moments in a sisterhood of writers.