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Glass Flowers

Seasons wither tones
You’ll fade under rains
Thin wine stems break
Through hurricanes

All care required
Not sale for display
Can’t live and breathe
Without soil decay

Think true beauty
Individualistic
The one to pick
Must stand for a misfit

To some a surprise
Glass flowers can’t blush
Being fashioned artificial
They could never miss us

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This entry was posted on September 21, 2010 at 6:53 am and is filed under Image Poetry, One Stop Poetry, Poetry Reading with tags , , , , , , , , , , , . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

120 Responses to “Glass Flowers”

  1. betweenhearts75 Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 8:16 am

    Such a wonderfully written poem Adam. Love the lines where “glass flowers can’t blush” 🙂 Get such a happier feeling in this picture however. Maybe it’s me but struck me almost like When Dorothy lands in Oz with all the munchkins, or the kids all enter the Factory with goodies in Charlie & the Chocolate Factory (the originallll – the remake creeped me, LOL) ~ Maybe I’m reading your words wrong, to me seems a fantasy, blended with knowing the truth of it all, in the last lines “Being fashioned artificial. They could never miss us.” ~ Great writing, as always Adam! 🙂 ~April

    Reply
  2. dustus Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 8:33 am

    Hi April. LOL the remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory creeps me out too! Like your interpretations. The picture does have a Wizard of Oz feel to it.
    Wasn’t thinking that when I wrote it, but now makes me think that the image would have made a good writing prompt.

    Always appreciate your thoughtful comments. cheers

    Reply
    • betweenhearts75 Says:
      September 21, 2010 at 10:47 pm

      Had to come back and read again, still see in your wonderfully woven words something of this fantasy in glass, this beauty that widens our eyes like we would as children, bright beautiful, but glass, that can break. The sad notions in our adult lives that also know the beauty behind the seen, touched, felt within, how fragile. That’s sort of what drew me back in to read this again. (beyond my humor ~ I had to recollect thoughts :))

      Old Movie Impression Poetry would be rather fun though!

      Reply
      • dustus Says:
        September 21, 2010 at 11:04 pm

        You’re awesome, April 🙂 and that is a great idea at the end, which means you host it on One Shot! lol Seriously though, cool idea for a theme. You said it first, and i am witness to it. lol

        Thank you 🙂

  3. Jingle Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 9:03 am

    vivid and perfect portrayal of glass flowers,
    beautiful image,
    enjoyed your perspective here…

    Thanks for the comments.

    Reply
  4. corbie77 Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 9:30 am

    Beautiful poem. I liked how you pointed out the fact that glass flowers are more fragile than they seem. Mother Nature has the last word, and nothing is ever certain. I totally agree with betweenhearts and you that the remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is creepy lol!

    Reply
  6. Kathleen Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 12:00 pm

    Sometimes, I feel like a glass flower. iLove it.

    Reply
  7. slpmartin Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 12:20 pm

    I like how you point out the weakness of the glass flowers…but on the other hand it would be fun to write a poem about what beauties they do have…just a reandom thought brought on by your fine poem.

    Reply
  8. dustus Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 12:41 pm

    Thanks for all the comments!

    @Corbie …Mother Nature will always have the last word, or last laugh depending on how you look at it.

    @slp I agree… Don’t think I’ve written one along those lines in a long time. I’m about due. lol

    Reply
  9. Rajlakshmi Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 1:45 pm

    //Glass flowers can’t blush
    Being fashioned artificial
    They could never miss us// these are such amazing lines…
    so beautifull portrayed…
    brilliant write 🙂

    Reply
  10. Claudia Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 2:06 pm

    wonder where the idea to this poem came from – was it the picture? or did you have the poem first and then found the pic?
    also love the line “glass flowers don’t blush” would be nice if they did though..
    maybe that wasn’t your intention, but your poem made me want to touch a real flower that withers and is soft on the surface and imperfect and uneven…so i’ll go and hug some flowers…smiles

    Reply
    • dustus Says:
      September 21, 2010 at 2:13 pm

      Hey Claudia… your response makes me smile. Nothing compares to what’s real, especially for the reasons you mention. Nice. Must admit that fake plants really bug me too.

      The picture came first for the this one 🙂

      Reply
  11. SenderUpWords Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 4:11 pm

    This is a wonderful write Adam. Each word is sublime. Nice one shot. Love and Light, Sender

    Reply
  12. Gay Cannon Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 4:15 pm

    I love the paradox in the power of your words and the fragility of the glass. It touched something deep in me. That twist of irony in the last two lines is heartbreaking. Excellent. Thanks, Gay

    Reply
  13. Kavita Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 4:17 pm

    Till now, I used to feel bad for us humans.. but after this poem, I am suddenly feeling how lucky we are, that we can feel and appreciate everything around us.. whereas those little glass flowers just sit there, still and unfeeling..

    A GEM of a poem, Adam! Thoroughly enjoyed the rhymes!!

    Reply
  14. William Manson Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 4:19 pm

    nice poem adam, superb graphic 🙂

    Reply
  15. Eric Alder Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 4:20 pm

    I never thought of flowers missing us, but I suppose their beauty is lost on color-blind animals.

    And what a coincidence that you wrote about glass flowers and I posted these pictures earlier today.

    Reply
      • betweenhearts75 Says:
        September 22, 2010 at 6:18 pm

        Totally agree on Eric’s pics I had a looksie too, lol. and btw Adam if computer STAYS working, gets fixed/or I get a new computer (which right now, not so great on $, but…) whichever comes first and hopefully SOON….I would be thrilled to take up a project and/or help on OneStop…..been a rough day of things. Today computer decided not to recognize anything hitched up to it….I decided to take it apart myself (scary) somehow a temp fix, but afraid when I shut it off…it could be the end of it.

  16. Maureen Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 4:25 pm

    Very fine, Dustus. There are a lot of layers of meaning here.

    I especially like the opening line and “thin wine stems break/ Through hurricanes”.

    Reply
  17. theronkennedy Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 4:30 pm

    Beautiful poem. The reading is a nice touch.

    Reply
  18. ladynimue Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 4:47 pm

    I remember learning in science workshop years back , that mixing few compounds result in shapes as if budding plants ! this poem reminded me of that ..

    Real or glass, flowers always are beautiful creations 🙂 and so are your poems !!

    Reply
  19. Steven Marty Grant Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 5:03 pm

    This is very inventive. Great use of picture and poem.

    Reply
  20. Patti Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 5:05 pm

    Nice! I love “Can’t live and breathe/Without soil decay.” It’s such a beautiful way of expressing the need for shadows in order to appreciate the sun. (And very cool flowers too, even if they can’t blush.)

    Reply
  21. anthonynorth Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 5:07 pm

    Such an excellent contradiction in this. cleverly done.

    Reply
  22. Desert Rose Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 5:42 pm

    Sorry Adam, i posted my comment for the ‘Glass flowers” on the “chairs” so i apologize for the confusion, i will copy and post it again here..:)

    Reply
  23. Desert Rose Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 5:51 pm

    SO sweet Adam, true..i never loved artificial anything by the way, i hardly even take pills eventho are made of natural herbs orginally, but roses should be bare, raw, scented and expressive ..just natural..love your poem..and its depth..;)
    cheers from septemberic Cairo..:)

    Reply
  24. brian Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 5:55 pm

    hey adam…happy one shot…your words flow like that glass…you catch me right away in that first stanza…i wonder do glass flowers feel cheap, being an imitation, yes both are so fragile and the real one passes so quickly this time of year…i guess they each have their weaknesses…

    Reply
  25. Teresa Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 6:06 pm

    I love your idea that perhaps real flowers do miss us unlike the glass ones. Very nicely done!

    Mine is here. http://razzamadazzle.wordpress.com/2010/09/21/moon-over-the-corn/

    Reply
  26. KB Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 7:41 pm

    You convey the fragile state of the flowers so well here.

    Reply
  27. gautami tripathy Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 8:00 pm

    Very well written. Sometimes glass flowers are works of art. Maybe they do blush, but we can’t see that..:D

    I loved your rhyming.

    ode to un-puntuated verses

    Reply
  28. buttercup600 Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 8:42 pm

    So full of depth and must admit I also don’t like anything fake..loved the 3rd stanza Adam. Nicely wielded pen here as ALWAYS!!! Hugs xx

    Reply
  29. Doraz Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 8:52 pm

    “Individualistic”

    I love that word.
    I love your poem.
    I hope that all is happy and bright
    At your home.
    😎

    Reply
  30. signed .............bkm Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 9:17 pm

    fashioned artificial….reminds me of some people….nice one shot Dustus…bkm

    Reply
  31. suzicate Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 9:17 pm

    Glass flowers can’t blush, but if by some random chance they crush, you can make a beautiful mosaic!

    Reply
  32. Caty Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 9:24 pm

    love the line “glass flowers don’t blush” terrific write

    Reply
  33. Shashi Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 9:37 pm

    True beauty – a misfit, what an idea… loved it
    Very interesting to make an inanimate object come alive with metaphorical “They could never miss us”

    ॐ नमः शिवाय
    Om Namah Shivaya

    Reply
  34. Talon Says:
    September 21, 2010 at 10:25 pm

    This was so neat taking delicate blooms to a whole different level!

    Reply
  35. Belinda Munoz + The Halfway Point Says:
    September 22, 2010 at 3:23 am

    Lovely. This touches a melancholy side of me. To fade and wither without ever having known the bittersweet feeling of missing someone is sad, but I remind myself these are artificial blossoms. Or maybe your message is that artificial anything is devoid of meaning. Either way, it speaks to me.

    Thank you for sharing gorgeous words.

    Reply
  36. River Says:
    September 22, 2010 at 3:54 am

    I love it. Lol 🙂

    Reply
  37. Chris G. Says:
    September 22, 2010 at 7:40 am

    So vivid, such beauty. Contradiction, depth, and such delicacy…great work, to the very end.

    Reply
  38. Ben Langhinrichs Says:
    September 22, 2010 at 7:47 am

    An interesting mix of the artificial and real. You never fail to provoke thought. Thanks for the One Shot.

    Reply
  39. joanny Says:
    September 22, 2010 at 7:58 am

    There is nothing like the real thing… now if we can keep your poem in mind, perhaps we would been more mindful preserving mother earth,

    Nice vivid words, paints a strong picture.

    Joanny

    Reply
  40. Elise Says:
    September 22, 2010 at 8:10 am

    an imitation yes, but still beautiful in itself.

    excellent writing!

    Reply
  41. RiikaInfinityy 마왕 Says:
    September 22, 2010 at 8:13 am

    I love it, it is as thought there is a real reality and the the alternate reality (Watched too much Fringe again, sorry XD), same yet different in so many ways, thought they both look exactly the same, deep down, one difference can make a big difference, like how glass flower are been compared to the real one…not every beauty in this world surface up to be consider “beautiful” 🙂

    Reply
  42. dustus Says:
    September 22, 2010 at 8:26 am

    Really like the conclusion you draw from your comment. Well said 🙂

    Reply
  43. G-Man Says:
    September 22, 2010 at 8:43 am

    I guess I’m looking at this a bit differently..
    In my opinion…
    Glass Flowers are Immortal.
    I also love your vocals…Great Job Adam

    Reply
  44. Julliette O (LarvK) Says:
    September 22, 2010 at 9:25 am

    Wonderful write as always Adam and i also felt like i was in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and that the glass flowers anytime may come alive. True we won’t miss them after all they’re not real flowers. Made me think of how we get attached to fake things when in reality they serve little purpose in our lives. Great one shot 🙂

    Reply
  45. dustus Says:
    September 22, 2010 at 9:49 am

    LOL Illusions can often seem more real than mundane happenings. Still think that remake of Charlie and the Chocolate factory was creepy. lol Great comment. Thanks, Julliette 🙂 Always appreciate your visit

    Reply
  46. john Says:
    September 22, 2010 at 12:00 pm

    As was once said this is not a flower( well actually said about a cigar) so its interesting to explore what it is. Thanks for reading and commenting on my poem. Hope your week goes well.

    Reply
  47. pete marshall Says:
    September 22, 2010 at 12:31 pm

    there was such sadness in this piece…..artificial love, the fakeness that exists in the world…as always a great one shot…cheers pete

    Reply
  48. Collective Epiphanies Says:
    September 22, 2010 at 12:46 pm

    An enjoyable read. A true poet or artist can find something often overlooked, forgotten or even not even thought of and mold it into something intriguing, unforgettable. Though fake flowers are nothing like the real thing, yet still you managed to craft realism into them.

    Reply
  49. Lu Ann Says:
    September 22, 2010 at 1:10 pm

    True beauty… who defines that I was wondering?

    🙂 Very nice… thou they cannot blush still they look pretty fine for the not so critic eyes.

    Reply
  50. dustus Says:
    September 22, 2010 at 2:19 pm

    Great comment, Lu Ann! How do we define anything really when it comes to a subjective term, or in this case a combination of two, or even words we use each day? We have examples of it that are somewhat agreed upon, seldom without dissent of course. Depends on one’s individual notions of the language we use and cannot precisely define. Artists have been trying for centuries to explain such abstract concepts.

    We all have preferences—makes us human 🙂 I really appreciate your feedback
    cheers

    Reply
  51. George Pappas Says:
    September 22, 2010 at 4:38 pm

    Teriffic poem Adam. Great imagery. Like how you played off artificial aspect of the flowers in that they are beautiful and they can “live and breathe without soil decay” but “they could never miss us.” Ultimately, they are not alive and are truly pale imitations of real flowers, real living creatures.
    Nice comment on the artificial aspects of our society many times putting things, materialistic creations above living, breathing ones.
    Thanks again,

    George

    Reply
    • dustus Says:
      September 22, 2010 at 6:02 pm

      By George I think you’ve got it! lol Always wanted to say that to someone named George. Forgive me and thank you for taking time to read my work. cheers

      Reply
  52. Khakjaan Wessington Says:
    September 22, 2010 at 5:25 pm

    I think you were inspired when you wrote the first stanza, but then didn’t know what to do or where to take it. The first stanza is strong, the rest is forgettable.

    Reply
  53. Khakjaan Wessington Says:
    September 22, 2010 at 5:26 pm

    BTW, accidental or not, scan out the meter in that first stanza: good stuff in there.

    Reply
  54. ajhayes Says:
    September 22, 2010 at 6:59 pm

    This gets better after every time I read it.

    Reply
  55. Artswebshow Says:
    September 22, 2010 at 7:32 pm

    Awesome.
    Glass flowers. lol
    Put a very interesting image in my mind

    Reply
  56. Bill Says:
    September 22, 2010 at 7:40 pm

    I believe that simple poems are the most difficult to write; well, at least they are the most difficult to write well. When well-written, they have a beauty and delicacy about them. The words color, and whisper. The form you chose, soft words, and delicately-balanced meter mirrors the glass of the flowers very well. Nicely done.

    Reply
    • dustus Says:
      September 24, 2010 at 8:54 am

      Bill, you make points about short poems that I definitely agree with, and continue to attempt due to the challenge involved. Thank you for your kind comment 🙂

      Reply
  57. suz Says:
    September 22, 2010 at 8:19 pm

    my mother had glass flowers on her dining room table
    i often think of them….what happened to them
    But I never thought about them not missing me
    I guess that’s a good thing
    they probably landed in the trash…..
    not a good place for a sentimental flower to be

    Reply
  58. lovelyannie79 Says:
    September 23, 2010 at 7:22 am

    Glass flowers. I really did not expect such a topic, and it has knocked me off balance a bit.

    This poem has stirred something within…and I cannot quite touch it.

    A sense of sadness, loss, as well as beautify that is only made more ethreal and wonder-full due to sadness and loss…I am just processing triggered feelings in this comment…Don’t mind me!

    I am so glad to have met you, btw…

    this write is good looking!!!!

    Reply
  59. Linda Says:
    September 23, 2010 at 2:44 pm

    Wonderful picture and poem. I think I prefer the real thing – even if they are a bit flawed and fragile!

    Reply
  60. Tony Single Says:
    September 23, 2010 at 7:35 pm

    If glass flowers grew large enough to hit the glass ceiling, what would break first? The flowers or the ceiling?

    Why am I asking such a dumb question when I’ve read such a fine poem? 😛

    Reply
  61. Olivia Says:
    September 24, 2010 at 5:01 am

    I feel the glass flowers sit pretty the whole day and we hardly read what’s in their heart..!!
    Very beautifully expressed.. they being so myriad, we never miss to notice- but only outwardly. We never read their minds..

    Wishing you a great weekend..

    Reply
  62. dustus Says:
    September 24, 2010 at 9:17 am

    Hi Olivia. Thanks for reading my work 🙂 Have a great weekend too. I definitely will—get to see my niece tomorrow and very excited! 🙂

    Reply
  63. Emmanuel Ibok Says:
    September 26, 2010 at 5:08 pm

    Wow…this was pretty interesting…I like the whole glass flower and the way you painted the artificiality about it…the pix is cool as well.

    Great week ahead, to you.

    Cheers!

    Reply
  64. dustus Says:
    September 27, 2010 at 7:31 pm

    Hi Em! Sorry for the delay in responding just got back from a long road trip. Always appreciate you visiting! cheers, friend

    Reply
  65. echostains Says:
    September 29, 2010 at 5:24 am

    Thin wine stems break
    Through hurricanes….

    I love the glass flowers and the poem! You describe the artificiality and the brittleness and fragility very well!

    Glass flowers can’t blush..
    thats a great line:)

    Reply
  66. dustus Says:
    September 29, 2010 at 8:42 pm

    The appeal of the glass flowers, the ones in the pic, has grown on me a little since writing this one. lol Always great to read your comments, Lynda 🙂

    Reply

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