Last night I participated in a poetry reading Words for You with the Festival of Words. It was a fundraiser event for the festival. We usually find sponsors and read in a day long poetry event in downtown Lafayette, but this year fundraising, as everything, looks different. Louisiana writers volunteered to be commissioned to write a poem. Each poet wrote a special, unique poem for the person who selected them. I was chosen by my mother-in-law, Anne Simon.
I was touched by a poem by Li-Young Lee “From Blossoms” and used it to form a poem for “Minga” (her grandma name my oldest child gave her). Just a few words about this amazing woman. She is a retired district judge. She’s the mother of three, grandmother to six, and great grandmother to 2 with another on the way. She is fond of birds and flowers, tennis and basketball, and foreign travel. She’s taken me along on a trip to Greece when she turned 80 and Africa for her 85th birthday.
I hope that my poem honors who she is in some small way. Writing for someone you know well is not as easy at it may seem.
Desert Rose
for Anne Simon
after Li-Young Lee “From Blossoms”From a broad-base bonsai trunk,
trumpet-like blossoms pop festival-red,
that desert rose Julie bought at Lowe’s
when Love was a potted plant.From desert soil “complex, yet refined”
a pearl in an ocean of sand, your hand
taps to test its dampness. You are judicialeven in your watering. The flowers stand up
and notice your kindness. O, to take what we love
inside the porch, a safari, to see
not only the rose, but the whole Serengeti.There are days we talk
Margaret Simon, all rights reserved, 2020
as if death will not separate us;
Your voice, my heartbeat from love
to love to love, from rose
to soil to deepest esteem,
the deepest kind of esteem.
Reflections on the Teche 
Stunning tribute – I was close to my mother-in-law as well and all I can manage to say after reading Lee’s words in the context of your celebration of your relationship with Mrs. Simon is this: Death doesn’t separate us – those roots of love, of deep esteem, grow ever-deeper, and blossom still. Much like her desert rose, oh yes.
I have always admired your mother-in-law and I love this beautiful poetry you have honored her with. What a special relationship you have been blessed with💗
Soooooo beautiful. “from love to love to love” makes me tear up. We are so fortunate, those of us that chose mother-in-laws well.
As you wrote to us about Anne, her care and her travel, I saw that the poem traveled through her life, too, focusing and ending on your love for her, ‘esteem”, Margaret. I imagine this is a gift so very special to her. And – FYI – your link for PF takes us to the Poetry Foundation site, not your post. Have a lovely weekend!
Oh this is so beautiful, Margaret. I can only imagine how much it must mean to your mother-in-law. What treasures–your relationship and this poem.
I love both your poem and From Blossoms. Both endings are so poignant.
I love this poem and Anne! You two are so lucky to hold each other in special “esteem “
Beautiful tribute. Your mother in law sounds like an incredible person to know. And I think it is even harder to write a poem about someone you know well.
There is so much to admire in this beautiful tribute poem. Thank you for sharing such a special gift with us.
This poem is gorgeous, Margaret. “…from love/to love to love…” is exactly right.
That is doing a most difficult thing with grace and intense, glowing love. It’s brave of you, and generous, to share it. 💜
Oh my, Margaret what an amazing tribute and gift your poem is to Minga! Thank you for sharing about the love you both share for each other. It is beautiful.
Rich tribute poem to your Mother-in-law Margaret! You beautifully wove so much of your relationship and travels into these lines,
“O, to take what we love
inside the porch, a safari, to see
not only the rose, but the whole Serengeti.”
I like the paralleling of your poem with Lee’s especially in both of your 3rd and 4th stanzas, Thanks!
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