See more posts at Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life
It doesn’t take much to bloom–
a space in the yard
tucked away from plain view
safe from weeds and snakes.
Just stretch out your branches,
bend to the light,
open your eyes
and be white lace, clouds of lace
woven on air
swept up in a tangle of wind
waiting for hope.
That’s all it takes to bloom.
(c) Margaret Simon
Reflections on the Teche 
What a beautiful poem. It gives me hope that spring will be here soon.
So beautiful! Thanks for this poem – I am inspired to write one. My favorite lines – swept up in a tangle of wind, waiting for hope. Lovely. Thanks for the photo, too.
I love this. Working on being clouds of lace today. Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Stretch, bend, open, and be! Oh how I love those verbs. Happy Sunday, Margaret!
Love this! Thanks for sharing and the inspiration. Someday I’ll write a poem.
I love the choice of “open your eyes” instead of “close.” I love the way the simplicity of the structure and the diction makes it seem like this is possible, probable even. I love the enjambment from the end of the second stanza into the third, the only hint of the true complexity. Ah… it doesn’t take much – just everything.
Amanda, your comment is everything to me today. My hope in writing simplicity is to help us see how complex life is and we need to turn to the simple message of nature.
Oh, I love this! You’ve created such a beautiful mood with this poem. Soft and gentle and yet powerful. I really like the connection between your beginning and ending lines.
Ahhh…blooming seems so simple. I read this first as a literal description of spring’s arrival and then as a metaphorical spiritual blooming. Thanks for a great poem today, Margaret.
Thanks for sharing this great poem. I loved the lines: swept up in a tangle of wind – waiting for hope. Beautiful!
Love these lines (I see Karen does too!): “woven on air
swept up in a tangle of wind
waiting for hope.”
I can’t wait for blooms here in COOOOLD Ohio!
Lovely poem. The picture gives the poem so much meaning. The plant looks like bougainvillea, which grows in the tropics and does not also take a lot to bloom.
Isn’t it amazing how little it does take for a bloom? I am still utterly amazed as I look at our gardens still buried under FEET of snow, knowing that in 3 months (or less?) we will see life returning all around us!
This poem is inspirational and hopeful. I love your word choice but prefer to not see any snakes.
Even metaphorical snakes are scary.
Blome (pronounced bloom) was my maiden name, so I am always partial to poems with that word. Yours makes me wish spring was just a bit closer. Your words today remind me of many of my students. So many need to find the place where they can stretch their branches, bend to the light, open their eyes and find hope….and bloom! Thank you for sharing this today.
I love how the middle stanza switches to speaking directly to the plant and repeats the word lace. Beautiful poem!