Poetry Friday round-up is with Amy at The Poem Farm.
Part of playing with poetry is finding poetry everywhere in every way. I was reading The Writer’s Almanac on Eudora Welty’s birthday, April 13th. In the article, there was a list of the seasonal flowers that bloom in Eudora’s garden that was diligently tended by her mother, Chestina. I collected the flower names and crafted a poem around them.
Photo from Calla Lily Dialogues
Walking in Eudora’s Garden
For Eudora Welty, 1909-2001
The optimist’s daughter steps into a garden
of larkspur, writes stories among hollyhocks,
gathers courage from snapdragons.When summer comes, she celebrates phlox
and zinnias and blue salvia.
Even in autumn, her garden bloomswith asters and chrysanthemums–
a name that rolls from her southern drawl
like creamy froth on café au lait.Her garden never dies. Winters charm
with camellias and pansies.
The sounds of birds rejoice all year long.–Margaret Simon (draft) 2019
Author’s note: I grew up in Jackson, MS during Eudora Welty’s lifetime. I once heard her read and was given the opportunity to interview her for a high school project. She was an elegant, kind woman.
Reflections on the Teche 