This Friday the fun is on at Madison Woods and I am bank with the Friday Fictioneers in full swing having been away last week. Today’s prompt from Lura Helms looks interesting and I could not resist it. So dear friends, here is my humble poem. Do feel free to critique as you comment.
Withered Flower
I am a flower
Left
By the roadside
Far From
The Great Oak.
Sun baked
Sweaty
Withered
A pitiful
Pitiable flower.
No one
Recognises me
My startling
Beauty
Now
A faded shadow.
Beauty is
Fleeting
Character
Enduring
And so
I will not
Give up
I look to the
Canopied leaves
Swaying
Majestically
To the rhythm
Of the
Whispering
Breeze
Will I find
A place
To hide
Under
Their sanctuary
I send
A silent prayer
To the leaves
Sweet rustles
They hear me
Let me find
Shelter
In the crook
Of the Great Oak,
Let me find
Shelter
In your arms
(C) Celestine Nudanu
17/08/12
To see what the rest of the Fictioneers are up to, do click on the little linky below. Thanks!
5.555717
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Withered Flower
Reading Pleasure 
This is very nice…such beautiful words for a tree that might strike many as anything but beautiful…well done
Thank you, Boomie.
This is beautiful!
Thank you, Lura.
Amazing !
Thanks, my dear friend
Reblogged this on LAND OF FUN and commented:
This is GREAT !
Thank you, Aman.
Very nice picture and feelings produced. You have succeeded in moving me with your poem. Thank you for the link.
Scott
Glad I made an impact on you.
Beauty is fleeting…character enduring. Well put. Lovely poem, Celestine.
http://www.rochelle-wisoff.blogspot.com/2012/08/casualty-of-war
Thank you, Rochelle
I especially like the “And so” that follows those two lines Rochelle noted. Pitiful and pitiable also work together well. Love your juxtapositions!
Sets me to pondering the nature of beauty. The embracing of a withered, worn out thing so much more beautiful than prettiness. A little criticism–I might reconsider the inclusion of the statement of purpose (3rd stanza). I think your poem speaks for itself, and more cohesively and effectively without the intrusion. Nicely done.
Thanks a million, Kelli for your kind comments and consrutctive suggestions. Indeed, the third stanza becomes superflous. I may have to think of its replacement though, to make up the 100 words. Again, thank you.
I love the mix of destruction and hope in this beautiful poem, Celestine. Character really does endure for this narrator, and I feel she may be much more than a flower.
oops! No link!
I’m over here: http://elmowrites.wordpress.com/2012/08/17/friday-fictioneers-sin/
Been over! Great story, yours
You’re right. The flower is only an analogy. Your comments put a smile on my face. Thanks a mi!
This evokes such a beautiful sense of nature taking care of itself as it moves relentlessly through its cycles. I love it.
Thanks for your comment on ours, Celestine 🙂
Thanks Joanna. I’m glad you love this. Your two stories were great too.
A beautiful way of expressing something that has no seemingly becoming features.
Finding the beauty in this was masterfully done, I think. Very good imagery.
Thanks you so mcuh, Joyce for your lovely comments.
Wonderful imagery. I liked how you turned this dark photo into something beatiful and timeless (as trees have always provided shelter). Nicely done, here’s mine:http://postcardfiction.com/2012/08/17/discovered/
Thank you so much, Janet
Simply beautiful. It felt like a cool drink of water reading that poem.
Oh, thanks a mil, Erin. Love your comment
I felt the emotion here as if I were the flower…
Great write!
Ah, Rosy. Thank you for your continuous support
A very powerful poem. Thanks for stopping by mine too.
You’re welcome. I appreciate your comments, Anne.
This is beautiful. It is also a powerful statement on beauty, what is real beauty, and what is real strength.
Thank you, Jan. And I do agree with your insightful comments.
This is vivid and sensitively written. I love your imagery and wanted the flower to survive. 😉
lol! I’m happy you love this. I’m always happy when I see you here.
Likewise… when you visit my blog, dear sister! 🙂
Celestine, Most of those I follow, I follow because I enjoy their postings and what and how they express themselves and their creativity. But I will admit that there are a few I follow because I know I will feel better as the result of the visit. You are so very talented! Just felt the need to express this! 🙂
Ow, now I am blushing under my black skin. Truly tickled and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. And I give God the glory for this. Blessings to you my friend.
Blessings in return, I find myself to be bountifully blessed with wonderful new like-minded friends such as yourself. Makes my day, every day! 🙂
Good imagery: the “Withered,… pitiful, pitiable flower” finding “Shelter In the crook Of the Great Oak.” Nice work..
Thank you
to write that… you must have a beautiful soul
I very much enjoyed it
Ow, thank you so much for your lovely words
Lovely! Even if you decide to leave out the third paragraph, you don’t have to replace it. If you can convey your thoughts in less than 100 words, go for it!!
Thanks a million for that angle. I do appreciate it.
You are so very good at this!
Thank you, Gilly
I like the fourth stanza. The way it sounds as you read it is awesome.
Thank you, CC.
I admit I was a little suspicious at first but your poem drew me in. I particularly like the last stanza. The whole poem reminded me of the song “Mon Amie la Rose.”
Thank you, Glossarch
Lovely choices for this uplifting poem. Personal note: It seems more and more Fictioneers are turning to poetry. With no offense to anyone, as much as I love poetry, this site is for 100-word short stories and that’s what I prefer to read. Tks for visiting mine.
Thanks, Lora. But me thinks Madison said on her blog that one is free to write the 100 words on any form.
Exquisite 🙂
Thank you Christina. Glad you could make it here. Thanks for the follow. I will come over to yours shortly
I’m so very glad I came too! I absolutely love the way you write…the imagery your words create in my mind…you are so very talented! I’ll look forward to seeing you at my place 🙂 Blessings ~
Simply beautiful.
http://adrarasdreams.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/fridayfictioneers-blogflash-day-17.html
Thank you, tollykit
That was so beautiful and rich in imagery and emotions. I was baking in the dirt and thinking of being cool under leaves at the same time. Very moving. I’m glad I stopped by to read yours. I’m number 45 on the list. Have a nice weekend.
Many thanks, Atiya, for lovely words.
Your writing is beautiful as always, i adore this writing! It really speaks to my heart.
Ow, I do appreciate your lovely compliment. Thanks a million!
right to my heart. thank you Celestine for your wisdom, grace, and beauty. blessings to you and your family. Beth
Thank you Beth. Blessings to you too. Hope you are doing fine
Although still in deep grief, there are ‘time outs’ when I can breathe deeper and think a bit clearer. thanks for the kindness.
that was beautiful. I loved the graceful flow and the heartfelt prayer to the leaves.
thanks for the nice comment on mine.
Russel, Your comments have warmed my heart. Thank you.
awww little flower. needs a big protective oak. Love your way with words x
Thank you Ana. You are also marvelous with words.
This is a very nice sweet and gentle poem.
Thank you Kim. I might have missed this comment until now 🙂
Maybe not I have over 500 emails and I’m just reading.
Love the message of this poem–I must say that personally I’m not a huge fan of poems that consist of one or two word lines. But I am definitely in the minority in this modern era. (Especially looking at the number of likes). Keep writing; I’ll keep reading 🙂
Ow, thank you so much, WordCoaster for such lovely words. 🙂
dear Celestine, the journey of a flower…the journey of you…the questions within us of our own innate goodness, the need for affirmation…the need for sanctuary…so beautifully expressed! You reveal your delicate, gentle soul, dear friend of the typed key!
Ow, thank you so dearest Jane 🙂
I shared your poem on my Facebook page! I will continue to share your wonderful writing there– my friends will come to know you and appreciate you and your writing! My Facebook name is: Jane H. Johann…if you want to “friend” me. Have a great day!
You honour me so much, Jane and I’m most grateful! 🙂 I will ‘friend’ you on Facebook my friend. Lovely weekend to you.
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Reblogged this on aksharaalu – Best Collections.
Thank you so much, Mohan.