« previous poem || next poem »
The Rarest Bloom
Upon a sun-drenched urban street
An old apartment stands
Cool green protects the entrance to a dark forbidding hall
Outside, the city people greet;
Absorbed within their plans
Unseen by them but close, with soundless whisper dry leaves fall
For in the block, in unit five,
Upon a lacquer table
There sits a withered plant that once brought joy to all around
Though close to death the bud survives,
So far as she is able
And strives to brighten lives of those who cannot hear her sound
The master of the house ignores
The prize to which he's blind
The rarest bloom that shares his life he starves of love and care
Untidiness and other flaws
Distract his vapid mind
Dull life so occupies him he just does not see, or dare
This flower's drooping petal hides
A soul that should be treasured
True beauty sleeps beneath the leaf that now seems old and dry
Unknown to all in secret bides;
It never has been measured
Would there be one knew how to look, full certain he'd espy
A tale of unrelenting pain,
Sustained for many years
Of how this fount of glamour stays neglected and despised
Like favoured book is read again;
Remembering bitter tears
The unique plant's potential still remains unrealised
Until one day an Englishman
Walks by the curtained casement
And casts a furtive glance into the room wherein it lies
He catches breath, for see he can
And peers into the basement
It seems to him the plant calls to be rescued ere she dies
The threshold crossed, the passage walked,
So faces he the door
Which opens to his knock revealing cold disordered home
His gaze falls on the tired stalk
Which from the street he saw
Ears dead to futile protests from the interfering gnome
"Oh wondrous herb, oh beauteous gift
That should not here be sleeping,"
He cries, distraught to see the pain so close, before her kneels
To fuddled sloth he gives short shrift
In manner of her keeping
And cups cool draught to quench the thirst for life within he feels
Now deep within the flaccid leaves
A touch of colour glows
A hint of recognition from the heart whose trust he's won
As if to saviour's breast she cleaves;
A kindred spirit knows
He stirs her soul, he offers life where life before was none
Then snatches up the pot and strides
Unheeding from the place
Returning home cross storm tossed sea while withered bloom recovers
Protected in his love she bides
Yet feels a world of space
And in that space she shoots anew; dares dream of friends and lovers
Transplanted to his garden how
The thriving twig surprises
Where fresh clean air and gentle rain bring budding life anew
Though indoor stem was planted now
A perfect tree arises
Her blossom, wind strewn, carpets all with soft yet striking hue
Today the tree triumphant stands,
Her boughs and leaves outspread
Of past life's painful memories no outward scars remain
A resting place for lovers' hands,
A pillow for their heads
Strong and free her spirit soars and heartwood bears his name
« previous poem || next poem »
Synopsis
Another of my allegories. Your only clue this time: Nikki used to live in Apartment 5.