Featured Poem: Plant

Lorraine Walker Williams
Southwest Florida Branch

 

To place, slip seeds into moist soil,
shutter from light, incubate and wait.
To plant is the first lesson in patience.

 

Plant, as a particular phylum and
species, ornamental, cleansing air,
bringing outdoors in. For Feng Shui,
a plant is a lesson in placement.

 

Plant, as in yourself on the couch,
a park bench, or a bumpy bus.
An attempt to be rooted in time and
space, a lesson in belonging.

 

Plant, an implant, something foreign,
a replacement or enhancement,
as in tooth or breast. This teaches
impermanence.

 

Plant includes the word plan—
Making and revising,
following or ignoring a plan,
a lesson in flexibility.

 

Plant words flowing and growing
from the hand of a poet,
the lesson of jasmine and plums.

 

11 comments

  1. Dorothy Kamm says:

    I love the way you consider all the different meanings of the word “plant.” The poem makes one pause and consider. Wonderfully written!

  2. Brenda Layman says:

    Lorraine,

    I enjoyed reading this very thoughtful poem, especially the lovely final line. Thanks for sharing!

  3. Janet Fagal says:

    Lorraine,
    I truly love what you have done with your poem and all the lessons from the word “plant”. I especially like your ending as you come to the poet and the planting of words, linking it to jasmine and plums. I will want to keep this poem close to read again. It is a beauty. It has brightened my day and sparked ideas. Thank you.

Comments are closed.