flower girl

>> Wednesday, July 21, 2010

The other day after work, I trudged to the parking garage

a half hour later than planned.
Ticket, card in and out of slots,
then plodding down concrete stairs to the lower level,
head hanging.

I caught it out of my eye's corner,
as foot went down, then up, then down the next
passing then turning back to look again.

One purple pansy,
blossom pressed to the pavement,
fossil-like.

For some reason the tenderness crushed me,
stopped me in my tracks --

such a delicate little thing so out of place -
having fallen from someone's hands or basket or
maybe a little plastic tray from the farmer's market
and smashed underfoot
in the concrete jungle.

Maybe I'll start carrying pansies through parking garages,
dropping petals in my path
like a grown-up flower girl.


21 comments:

Corinne July 21, 2010 at 10:48 PM  

Love the images in this.
And the idea of a grown up flower girl... I'd apply for that job :)

eskaysea July 21, 2010 at 10:55 PM  

I've been meaning to plant pansies b/c my older son really loves them. The tenderness of a pansy in a 'concrete jungle' like a parking garage....beautiful.

Jodi July 21, 2010 at 11:10 PM  

Your words crushed me. Lovely.

emily wierenga July 21, 2010 at 11:44 PM  

oh, they crushed me too, hon... this is stunning. i'm honored you joined up with me... xo

TKW July 22, 2010 at 8:04 AM  

This poem rocks! We all could do with a few more flowers in our concrete jungles.

scraps of starlight July 22, 2010 at 8:10 AM  

I have felt the same. Whenever I see a little flower growing in a patch of dirt on the roadside, unoticed, silent beautiful, speaking in unheard whispers of God's glory, I feel a shiver of longing.
Beautiful poem.

Wandering On Purpose July 22, 2010 at 8:13 AM  

I can't quite explain it, but there are lines in this poem that bring tears to my eyes. Perhaps I sometimes feel like that flower, and other times I, like you, want to be that flower girl.

Southern Gal July 22, 2010 at 8:21 AM  

Being crushed yet beautiful. What a bittersweet picture you've created with your words.

Lorene,  July 22, 2010 at 8:34 AM  

Your flower girl dress (which I still have) had little purple flowers on it. (pansies?) Love you miss "flower girl".

Claudia July 22, 2010 at 10:55 AM  

You should definitely start carrying pansies through parking garages...but just - don't stop writing about it - that was lovely!
Claudia

Alexis Hallum July 22, 2010 at 11:55 AM  

Yes, do it! It would pretty up the concrete jungle.
This really touched me. I have had moments like these. It is nice when something so small tugs on the heart strings.

deb July 22, 2010 at 12:49 PM  

I also like knowing that there are other people out there thinking like this, it's comforting.

Adventures In Babywearing July 22, 2010 at 1:36 PM  

Beautiful- I catch myself gazing at the weeds and wildflowers and golden wheat that grows on the sides of the road while I'm stopped at stoplights. With road and dirt and gray and construction I love to see those weeds rising up.

Steph

Kim Andersen July 22, 2010 at 1:56 PM  

this is so whimsical
sometimes lovely things happen when our heads hang down so low :)

Linda July 22, 2010 at 6:16 PM  

Such a sweet moment - a gentle reminder of beauty in our every day.

Laura July 22, 2010 at 6:42 PM  

Great idea! It's nice to find plucky blossoms in the cracks of concrete life, isn't it?

julie July 22, 2010 at 10:26 PM  

I read this before I went to work this morning and later in the day, when I went on a short walk to clear my head, I saw a hearty little purple flower, all by its lonesome self in a patch of twigs. Made me smile and reminded me of your words. Thanks for brightening my day!

joanny July 23, 2010 at 5:53 AM  

a small thing of beauty hardly noticeable crushed in a sea of concrete and busy passing feet, and yet, it stands out -- amazing moment in time. Lovely indeed - flower girl.

Joanny

from emilys

sarah July 24, 2010 at 9:42 AM  

oh this is beautiful. beautiful. you have an eye for capturing moments. and aren't those moments what life is all about?

Daniegirl July 25, 2010 at 11:23 AM  

I love the last image. You totally should! The world can always use a little more beauty and mystery. :)

Graceful July 26, 2010 at 7:53 PM  

Oh this is beautiful...it makes me teary.

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I'm a realistic optimist who relies on raw honesty and plenty of humor to navigate the boystorm that is my life. I am mother to three and wife to one. These are my stories.


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