Flowers Bedside

Poetry

Flowers Bedside

Katie Frances Hartless

ekphrasis

~After Bella White

The lily bloomed last night.

It stinks, but I lied,

told you I adored the sight.

Two weeks earlier,

I was concerned

your carnations

might never expire.

I’ve watered the entire bouquet twice,

and sunlight through the shades

slants sideways,

past the sunflower dunce

and the few bruised rose petals

that cling to a putrid vine.

I can’t bare to throw them out,

So I’m culling them

one at a time,

these flowers that died

bedside.

Cover Art: “Dead Flowers On My Night Stand” by Steven Thomas Higgins

19 responses to “Flowers Bedside”

lifelessons

Ha.. I always cull them variety by variety. The astroemerea always last the longest.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. K. Hartless
  
  That’s a great idea. I wonder, does it works with people, too? Just cut out a memory at a time. 😂
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
  1. lifelessons
    
    Now that is a poem, K.!!!!
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
johnlmalone

there’s something going on here beneath the imagery that teases my imagination ; love the painting with its hints of decay —

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. K. Hartless
  
  That’s what I get for writing poetry near midnight. It’s got a muddled time line, so after some contemplation I’ve tweaked it. Makes less sense now, maybe. 🤣 Nailed it!
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
100 Country Trek

Thanks for sharing your words and is so amazing.
I follow each other. Anita

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. K. Hartless
  
  Thank you. I’m honored, really.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
Colleen M. Chesebro

This is so good! That last line really grabbed me!

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. K. Hartless
  
  Thank you, Colleen. I felt something writing it, as flowers were rotting in a vase nearby, but it seemed sort of disjointed in the am. One to tinker with, for sure. I’m so glad you enjoyed it
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
100 Country Trek

Thanks for sharing my blog. Anita

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. K. Hartless
  
  I look forward to reading more about your exciting treks.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
Cindy Georgakas

Always love your words strung and this is a keeper but dump the flowers 💐 K 😜

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. K. Hartless
  
  Great advice. Thank you, Cindy. Wise and witty. 🙂
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
  1. Cindy Georgakas
    
    You got it.. glad to oblique K.. 🥰
    
    LikeLike
josna

Ha–wicked! “I was concerned/your carnations/might never expire.”

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
Bridgette

That last line got me, bedside. Hints at a lot more than dying flowers and tugged at my heart.

LikeLike

Reply
johnlmalone

I did my first Ekphrasis a few posts back; not as good as any of yours so thought I’d revisit this one for few tips 🙂

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. K. Hartless
  
  Oh, what a nice thing to say, John. I need to head to your site and find it. I’ve been away at my niece’s graduation, so I missed a lot of posts this weekend.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
  1. johnlmalone
    
    thanks for those comments K 🙂
    
    LikeLike