She hides a Peony in her heart
Among the folds of its pretty pink petals
Lie her treasures, her secrets, her pain
A fragrant bitter-sweet space few have known
Born in the time of blooming
Where the delicate bright light of summer danced off golden locks
Fine, nimble lines formed Her flesh
Curious, playful, alive like the season was Her soul
Then Summer supplanted by Winter’s cold sleep
Innocence salvaged, secreted, saved
Secured beyond the reach of Man or Mother
She hid a peony in her heart
Competent. clever, accomplished
Stoking the fires of others, mending their broken seams
Someone always needing Her to help, to fix, to figure out
Their assuming and her doing protects the flower of Her heart
Most days frantic functioning under calm sweet smile
But on occasion energy dissipates, walls weaken
A petal will drop from time to time leaving traces
If you would know Her follow the petals to Her heart
For She hides a peony there
And She longs to let it grow
Comments
39 responses to “She hid a Peony in Her Heart”
I don’t like to pick favorite poems since every single one is a universe and I am an explorer. Maybe you’ll wow me with something wowsier later, ya know, but this is wonderful. My soul took a deep breath reading it.
Kisses 🙂
This poem is very moving and descriptive of so many women. I especially like this part and am impressed at how well you have captured this truth.
Stoking the fires of others, mending their broken seams
Someone always needing Her to help, to fix, to figure out
Their assuming and her doing protects the flower of Her heart
Most days frantic functioning under calm sweet smile
But on occasion energy dissipates, walls weaken
Thank you for being here.
This is beautiful and in a way, I agree, sad. Energy disappates, walls weaken… That is a very vulnerable place.
And a place of true strength. Its when the masks wear thin and the true self emerges. Thank you so for being here.
I pray the mask stays firmly in place. Without it I am lost
The true glory and strength and unique beauty of you is there. Behind the masks. Someone mislead you. Maybe from their own weakness or ignorance but the truth of you is wonderful abd this world needs the real you. Please.
Oh yes, I truly agree PG…so beautifully said!
Your poetry sings, this one rises above some others. I used to love to write poetry, never was any good, but I liked where my head went when I did.
Hey brother. Thank you. I thought you and Calen were writing a couple a while back. I seem to remember that what you did was excellent.
Nope. He was excellent all on his own! I sweet talked him into posting a little poem on my comments once. He’s very resistant to posting his poetry. Maybe YOU could talk him into sharing some??? 😀
He is right, btw. There is something special about this poem.
I heard somewhere or dream it that a real poem is a naked person. Some time we are bashful about being that exposed.
I think I’m in trouble then. I have no filters…
It was one. A haiku…done for the writing 101. More than three lines, and I go wandering off into my head where murky abounds.
Hey, didn’t mean to disappear, Just got busy for the last few weeks. I’ve always thought you do much better when you write the longer ones. This is one of my favorites and I’ll be coming back to it many times until I make it all the way to the flowers bud.
I think this is really beautiful! Great work!
Thank you mam. 🙂
Welcome!
Just beautiful PG…insightful and so lovingly expressed.
Thank you Doctor.:)
lol!
So beautiful . . .
Hey my buddy!
Hope all is well 🙂
It is. Still figuring what I’m gonna do when I grow up
Me too 🙂
🙂
I really like this.
Thank you. And thank you for stopping by here
My pleasure
There is a sense of almost sadness here. While the Peony is a summer flower, that she ‘hides a peony in her heart,’ feels like, she makes a memory of days in the sun, when her flower was in full bloom, and that is still within her, and she carries it with her into her eternity. It feel a bit mournful. Yet, listening to you is like being inside that secret place where that hiding place resides.
I love you. 🙂
We’ve got a mutual admiration society. 🙂 I love you too.
An interesting counterbalance to my sunflower post yesterday (18th of September. 🙂
Peony is my favorite flower and this poem moves me deeply… I feel you see the most hidden mystery of this woman’s heart.
A lovely poem beautifully read. Very groovy! Best wishes Opher
Then Summer supplanted by Winter’s cold sleep
Innocence salvaged, secreted, saved
Secured beyond the reach of Man or Mother
She hid a peony in her heart
* * * * *
I’d say the peony was the perfect flower for this poem since it’s the one so many people use to memorialize loved ones on Memorial Day. It’s a beautiful flower, sweet and complicated, but very hardy.
Beautiful!