I went away for a few days this month. November setting in – cold, wind, rain – the usual.
But on my return I found this calendula still flowering, making a tiny pocket of orange sunshine in its corner of the garden.
Flowers often look fragile, but they can be tough.
Today’s prompt from Carpe Diem is actually three words: rhododendron, chrysanthemum and kingfisher. I have only managed to use one of them; all my attempts to include all sounded ridiculous or very false.
On the window-sill,
a crystal vase holds water
and chrysanthemums.
I have to admit chrysanths are not one of my favourite flowers. They’re nice among other flowers in a border and they look good in a vase, but I don’t understand the importance they seem to have in Japanese culture.
I think the perfume is important to some people, but I have a very poor sense of smell so can’t get excited about scent unless it’s very strong.
Rhododendrons are different. I really admire their flowers and when I was a kid I used to love running under the green bushes in a park and looking at the shapes made by the branches.
But the kingfisher’s beauty outshines both.
Visit Carpe Diem for some fascinating dandelion facts and some lovely haiku. Here is my attempt:
I didn’t plant those
lion’s teeth flowers, but still
rejoice to see them.
Once again Carpe Diem has given us a challenge and a lead – this time to the understanding of the simplicity of a thing’s true nature.
I hesitate to try this challenge with the example of haiku master Chiyo-ni in front of me, but here goes:
dew on the daisy,
dew on the rouge flower, who
can tell them apart?
e a m harris 