In The Garden of my Tears
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Author unkown, illustration for the book "Italy," written but not illustrated by Frank Fox, published in the UK in 1918
In the mornings now
I walk through the
garden of my tears
Harboring secret
thoughts
Of your return
As I wipe dust off
The fragmented
flowers
Residing there.
During those times
Oft sighted
The smallest wren
sits
Atop a silvered rose
Warbling tunefully
in my ear
Reminding me of
songs left unsung.
The image of wiping dust off the "fragmented flowers" -- very powerful, and nicely alliterative.
ReplyDeleteThank you Marya!
DeleteThere is so much here to sit and simmer in...so much lonesome imagery. Very lovely write Audrey.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rhonda!
Deletemournful plaint, the longing deeply felt ~
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteJust lost someone so this really touches me. The sweet lone wren sighting.
ReplyDeleteI read your piece to your lost one--I am so sorry!
DeleteNice shape and unfolding here Audrey,, and the meaning is felt from the outset.
ReplyDeleteThank you Becky--
DeleteOh this reads to me as a metaphor of lost love and melancholy... and those song left unsung
ReplyDeleteThank you Bjorn!
Deletethat picture reminded me of an entrance to my grandmother's garden where i spent many childhood days.....and the writing is quite beautiful and deeply melancholic..the image of wiping dust off fragmented flowers is amazing..a poetic gem to be treasured here, Audrey~
ReplyDeleteThank you Yelena!
DeleteI think the songbird is an affirmation that all will be okay.
ReplyDeleteIt could be--strange what comes to us sometimes!
Deletethe songs left unsung is a painful image but it sounds hopeful with the perspective of his return..
ReplyDeleteThank you Claudia!
Deletemm emotive...the garden of our tears....love the little bird singing though its tune of unsung sounds while sweet leave my heart a bit heavy...smiles...
ReplyDeleteThanks Brian! The sun is out! Enjoy!
DeleteAudrey, what's not to love about this poem? Dusting off the petals (I probably would have washed them with salt water tears!! I'm an easy cry), that little bird, the songs that have not yet been sung... is it anticipation of return, or the love is gone for good? I'm a cockeyed optimist and think he will join her in the grotto once more. Lovely. Amy
ReplyDeleteHi Amy! I am an optimist as well! So perhaps . . .
DeleteAudrey, this is such a poignant poem. I understand yearning for the one who is no longer with us (for whatever reason), And it is so sad, isn't it, to think about the many songs that will never be sung. But it is wonderful that the wren can warble as a beautiful reminder.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary! Thank you! I enjoyed writing this one!
DeleteThe small touches enhance the melancholy of the scene; what once made us joyous - the details of nature, come back in a wave of sorrow when the one we loved and expected to be with always is gone. A great capture in poetry of all of this, Audrey.
ReplyDeleteGay! Thank you so much--enjoy your day!
DeleteBeautiful and wistful!
ReplyDeleteThank you Gabriella!
DeleteAudrey, this really struck me. I relish love poetry that addresses lost love and makes it all the more poignant. The detail of the wren topped it off for me. Perfectly crafted.
ReplyDeleteThank you Victoria!
Deleteenchanting!
ReplyDeleteIt seems there is optimism in your words of future to come with respectful acknowledgement of the pasts where it does not consume one.. I enjoyed your words..Thank light love friend for sharing them..to in part, take me there too...
ReplyDeleteThe second stanza struck me best:
ReplyDeleteWarbling tunefully in my ear
Reminding me of songs left unsung.
Lovely Audrey ~ Grace
That type of yearning sure hits us all at some point or another at our hall
ReplyDeleteSometimes the yearning is as sweet as the prize or sweeter. If only I knew then what I know now....lol
ReplyDeleteThis is a stunning write - you drew me into your garden, such a beautiful painting to go with your words - lovely Audrey - thank you.
ReplyDeleteThat last line, those songs left unsung, pulled at my heart. None should live with such regret. You've highlighted that truth.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.kimnelsonwrites.com/2013/08/20/transformation-2/
Really love this word garden you planted for us. I hope you leave no songs unsung.
ReplyDeleteThe garden of my tears, that is just fabulous. And songs left unsung, so rich and poignant an ending. Just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteEmotive and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI always love coming here to read your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteAh, all the could have beens, that lingering regret... a woman after my own heart! I love that gentle melancholy.
ReplyDeletePoignant, delicate, and lovely! ~jackie~
ReplyDeleteThe title sets the tone. The words following wrap themselves around it.
ReplyDeletePowerfully emotive in it's simplicity.
Really like this poem Audrey:)
What a beautiful, thoughtful yet simple poem. It's filled with longing....
ReplyDeleteAudrey a poignant garden walk, beautifully penned :-)
ReplyDeleteReflective melancholy beautifully penned with a sliver of hope in the company of birdsong. Lovely poem.
ReplyDeleteAnd there are still many songs left unsung...such is life, eh Audrey?
ReplyDeleteThank you for raising the standards of writing.
Extremely beautiful ... and is the wren your lost love? I do so love wrens, they just pass thru here on the way to somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful Audrey. The image of the wren reminding of the song unsung, truly a remarkable poem.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful yet sad. I like how my mind expected "fragranced" and was moved off balance by the "fragmented flowers".
ReplyDeleteSure, the proverb "Failure is a stepping stone to success" is very inspiring but, the memories of dejection it leaves...does bring sorrow and makes one shed a tear off and on.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work, Audrey!
Audrey this is so lovely. Could just hear that bird singing.
ReplyDeleteLovely poem & the image of the bird in the garden.
ReplyDeletein the garden
a robin sings of time—
the gardener
touches a rose
and sees a distant road
Reading this poem was like holding a delicate flower. So nice.
ReplyDeleteBreath-takingly beautiful but also sad and lonely
ReplyDeleteEvocative and beautifully expressed. Love it!
ReplyDeleteYou have my attention... Very well expressed, Audrey!
ReplyDeleteAudrey, a lot of emotion in this compact poem. Sad and lilting.
ReplyDeletePamela
The smallest things bring back memories, don't they? Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAudrey, the way you paint a beautiful painting with just a few words is just amazing. You do it so well! Lovely!
ReplyDelete"The smallest wren sits
ReplyDeleteAtop a silvered rose
Warbling tunefully"
I just love this entire poem...especially this part...I like that it's the "smallest wren!" Beautiful writing!
"The smallest wren sits
ReplyDeleteAtop a silvered rose
Warbling tunefully"
I just love this entire poem...especially this part...I like that it's the "smallest wren!" Beautiful writing!
"The smallest wren sits
ReplyDeleteAtop a silvered rose
Warbling tunefully"
I just love this entire poem...especially this part...I like that it's the "smallest wren!" Beautiful writing!
Very poignant, Audrey. We miss those we miss. Thanks. K.
ReplyDeleteHi Audrey,
ReplyDelete"I walk through the garden of my tears" Beautiful and poignant. I am walking through the garden capturing bittersweet memories of my dad who died 14 years ago today and happy memories to my brother and his wife who are celebrating their first year anniversary.
Take care and have a great weekend.
Susan