September
This was written for Read Write Poem Prompt #39: Writing for Months, Writing for Mouths. This was inspired by this speech, “Come September” given by activist and writer Arundhati Roy in 2002.
-Nicole
———————————————–
crimson stains
on white petals
of fist-wide flowers
open white palms to the sky
broad, smiling, innocent
unaware that they are stained
unaware that blood has rained
upon their faces
life and death
frozen together in one moment
the innocence of the snowy petals
against the innocence of the owners
of the blood
souls gone
which beat the flowers to the corporeal
finish line
too soon
a stained September
too soon
the flowers will remember
they bloom below the windows
of Pinochet’s palace
they bloom beside the hinges
of Gaza’s gates
and they bloom in the gardens
shadowed in undertow
next to the empty lots
where the towers once stood
we must remember
that September
is not ours alone in sorrow
but lest we forget
the flowers will remember
all of these Septembers
Written 8/10/08
© 2008 Nicole Nicholson. All Rights Reserved.
The metaphors for war and death you used in this poem are poignant and powerful. You delivered to me your central thoughts. Well done!
Yes! This has such power. That stanza that begins “the flowers will remember” — amazing. September was already poisoned for me by Pinochet. You make this difficult point so deftly.
The stanza that opens the flowers will remember is wonderful, so strong. Well done.
A heartfelt poem. I really like how you weave the image of the flower throughout. Tender, somber, beautiful.
I like how you’ve woven the flowers through this.
Some excellent symbols in this. A deep, poignant plea.
Wow! This has something of the weight of “In Flanders fields.” For me the bit about the people dying before the flowers was especially poignant – but overall this was a beautiful, powerful poem.
I really really love that last stanza!
that is truly a beautiful poem… white, red… makes me think of a sunday school song.. nothing but the blood of jesus… stained september too soon is subtle yet so powerful… which follows the whole poem…
I have not forgotten everyone, I have been reading your comments, I have just been really busy….thank you for dropping by and leaving your thoughts.
I am tired of war and bloody Septembers.
-Nicole