Confession of a Plant

author’s note:

Flower power.


CONFESSION OF A PLANT

I wanted to tell of my fight
without telling of my fight
so instead I spoke of a plant
I’d found rooted down in dark rich loam
in junk behind a shed.

With the airs of an aesthete
I described
how the plant’s little green shoot
had fought its way up and out--
with glee I wrote
of how the stalk had turned and twisted
between the pitchfork tines
as the plant sought
the dangerous but life-giving sun.

In delicate detail
I told of how the leaves

had slowly anxiously unfurled
to provide sustenance
to a flower opening--despite its fear--
offering itself up
to guarantee the future
of the species.

Through this metaphor
I found relief in public confession
while sparing myself the embarrassment
of displaying my pain in plain view.

But as I bowed in respect
to that beautiful weed

I saw in its openness a challenge
and became embarrassed about
my fear of embarrassment:

a shame I now hope to ease
with this confession of my struggle.

Common Courage: poetry ebook
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© 2021, Michael R. Patton

Eroding into Beauty

author’s note:

I’ve returned to this simple poem again and again over the last nine years, trying to get it right.

I think it’s worth the effort.

So then, did I finally get it right?

Not yet.


ERODING INTO BEAUTY

The one who was once
the prosaic innocence
of a green hill
has, over the years, bared herself
to reveal a profile of sacred rock:

a sun‑drenched summit
still slowly eroding
down into the river.

But those deep lines of attrition
appear beautiful because they tell
of a spirit grown wise.

Now, just your presence is a gift:

whenever we look up at you
and see your strength
again we realize the gain
is worth the loss.

you tube channel
© 2021, Michael R. Patton
finding Beauty: poetry ebook