I love to place flowers in a vase on my kitchen table. Last Sunday the rain finally stopped and the sun came out revealing new colors. Flowers were so happy about the rain. They were blooming like crazy. So I cut some and put them in a simple vase, a knock-out rose, yellow gerbera daisies, and blue flag iris. There they sat when I found an email with a link to a YouTube video on contour drawing. I drew this still life and I wasn’t disappointed in the results. I usually hate my drawing and often give up on any exercise that involves drawing skills. But to live creatively, you can’t give up. You shouldn’t deny the things you love. And you should always, always place flowers in a vase on your kitchen table.
Buds today
Margaret Simon, draft
will be blossoms tomorrow
Don’t forget to water
the seeds you plant.
They are yours
for only a moment.
Use these photos to prompt a small verse and leave it in the comments. Encourage other writers with comment replies. Thanks for being here today.
Reflections on the Teche 
I love the watercolor app on your photo. It really creates a stunning look! I’m also impressed by the Matisse vibe of your contour drawing. Your poignant poem really hit hard today as I’m processing some bad news. “They are yours only for a moment.” So true.
Contour Drawing
Pen to paper
bold lines
drawn blind
Is this how
we construct
our lives?
Molly Hogan, draft
Molly, Your poem does get at the feelings of not knowing what will happen. I hope that your bad news and your processing time will resolve in time. I agree about the lovely water color App.
Janet Clare F.
oooh, poignant question. Sorry for your bad news.
Lovely, Molly…Is this how construct our lives? Great question.
I used your lovely vase of flowers quite literally for this one. So pretty. Do you know the book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards, old but phenomenal Highly recommend. I love the first edition probably a bit more than the second because I fell in love, but the second is fabulous, too. When I did the exercises and was doing the “blind contour” drawing (not sure that was her name) I felt so so free, but the truly blind stuff was basically nothing like the hand or whatever…..then after I felt “good” and “like an artist” well, almost, because I am not, I did the modified.
Here’s today’s poem. Thanks for your inspirational work, Margaret. Do you sleep?
Garden Gazing
From the window I watch
rain mist the morning,
flowers shine sunnily
as they drink, then primp
for their debut in my
best vase.
Love the mist of morning and the use of “debut.” To answer your question, I am early to bed and early to rise. It works best for morning writing. Notice I am Not doing a Poem a Day for April. I’m writing. Just not publishing as much. Thanks!
Love “rain mist the morning”, Janet, and your alliterative title, too.
love those primping flowers
Janet F., every line of your poem is a picture for itself. As I read your poem, I imagine these flowers like the little ballerinas that “shine sunnily” and “primp” to be the most beautiful for their first dance (debut). Your way with words is amazing, my friend. You truly inspire me. Love it. ❤
Thank you, Vida. I love it when I can get a poem going quickly for this wonderful write from a photo/picture. I used to write (not always regularly, same as here) at Laura Purdie Salas’ 15 Words or Less site and loved it. Your comments are so nice and I know you love flowers.
A beautiful poem and drawing, Margaret. I love having flowers on my kitchen table. When I don’t have them in my garden I often purchase some at the grocery store. So cheery!
Renewal
a red rose
is the heart
of a spring bouquet
I will purchase them too. It feels like I am saving them in some small way. Love red rose as a heart.
perfect for this photo.
Rose,
Those roses are truly the heart of a bouquet. I love seeing the gorgeous photos Nikki Grimes posts on her fb page. There are glorious. I can’t wait for spring to really arrive in our area.
These lines
are a contour sketch.
I haven’t taken time
to see my paper
blooming
with my love
for these flowers
this vase
Ooo, paper blooming. Love that.
I love the effect of the glass vase and the stems. Thorns and all!
irises hover over
daisies
protective parents
I agree–natural and wild is part of the beauty. Those iris…aren’t they the best?
What I love about the irises is they continue to put out new blooms each day. The stalk is now about to pop out two new ones. I love the personification of your poem. Thanks for coming.