Second Poetry Challenge

[Hannah]

It's been a while since we posed a new poetry challenge for you. I've chosen the first line of a poem by William Blake - as I've just been reminded of his work  - let's see what we can do with it.

(I'll tell you the poem later  )


The line is:

A flower was offered to me,

[ForbiddenJoy]

A flower was offered to me,
The delicate petals appeared forlorn

(not sure if I'm doing this right -- I know the poem)

Joy

[Ben]

So did you mean we should run with it from that first line and write a full poem ourselves or just add a line each?

A flower was offered to me,
Dead and dying
As all could plainly see

Those beside me
Sneered and scoffed
As I carefully bent
Then held it aloft

I scented the fragrance
And smiled and inhaled
Imagined its beauty
That now had paled

It was so lovely
Not wilted; demised
But rather a gift
From a precious young child

[Viking Poet (U.K.)]

FLOWERS

A Flower was offered to me   
Passed with a sunlit smile
Onlookers never saw
The giving was a hidden sign

Time it's self was all against
For long I could not stay
Again I would return
With flowers to her repay

That flower she offered to me
Became a memory So deep
A single gesture of her love
A flower my heart would keep     

Paul.  17/12/06   

[Hannah]

Yes, Ben, I did mean to write a complete poem from Blake's opening line. It can be fascinating where we go with a starting line from something else, whether writing poetry or prose. There is some good stuff happening here. Hopefully, there'll be more soon. I'll have to have a go, too. 
Hannah

[Ivy]

Flower Child

a flower was offered to me
as I walked the beaten path
that led to nowhere
I hid it deep inside my belly

grow my little one
I whispered now and then
as its petals grew flush
to the walls of my womb

butterflies joined the flower in dance
rejoicing I would speak my heart
singing, humming, smiling
you will bear my name

the truth I could plainly see
I had no garden to place you
no shelter, no home
for I dwelled in a barren wasteland

I traversed a path narrow and hidden
overgrown and hard to go
steadfast in my quest
I plowed on, my aim being true

I knew in my soul
that your birth would herald
the singing of angels
as your love light spread around

you became my hope, my dreams, my salvation
nothing could deter me from my goal
to find a sanctuary
to plant my precious flower

sincere in my promise of protection
I will nurture her till she can stand alone
tall, strong, and proud
roots firmly planted in the ground

[Hannah]

Ivy
This is delightful! It is full of sentiments we can all relate to. Terrific. I think Blake would be impressed!
Hannah

[Hannah]

A flower was offered to me
What did it mean?
Red and tall, it must signify
Something.
Only trickery.

A flower was offered to me
Given with a smile
Small, yellow, tied with a bow
Pretty.
In friendship.

A flower was offered to me
Amidst a grand display
A variety of colours and types
Celebration.
A declaration.

A flower was offered to me
Squashed, wild
Really, only a weed
In chubby fingers.
Perfect gift.

[Ben]

Ivy,

Really enjoyed your poem "Flower Child". You took the line from Blake and ran with it; delicate and delightful, just like the precious flower itself.

Definitely deserves  Karma.

Thanks for sharing.
Ben.

[Ivy]

Hannah and Ben, I'm glad you both thought I did well with this poetry challenge I had alot of fun writing this one. My daughter was thrilled that I wrote a poem about her. I really like that you have poetry challenges they are great exercises and inspirations. Challenge me some more please.

                                     Ivy

[Hannah]

Ivy
I'm glad you like poetry challenges. I like them too. Not everyone does, but for those who do, there will be more coming. I'll put up the Blake poem shortly. I can imagine how much your daughter liked having the poem written about her. I've written poems about my children in the past, and they were quite moved by them. It is such a condensed form of expression of feeling about someone, that it is always special for the person it is written about or dedicated to. My daughter has asked me to write a poem to her that she can frame. Perhaps your daughter would like this one framed and she can hang it on the wall or you can put it on display somewhere in your home. It would make a precious gift.  x:
Hannah

[Alan]

FLOWERS

Once, a flower was offered me
I spurned it because I was young
grace, beauty weren't activity
naughtily I stuck out my tongue

Once, a flower was offered me
I looked, in truth was so impressed
freezing through inexperience
budding salad remained - undressed

Once, a flower was offered me
brazen, bold as any bright day
modesty forbids the detail -
I had snowball's chance to say nay

Once, a flower was offered me
and it blossomed under my care
perhaps I killed it by kindness
suddenly, it's no longer there

Last, a flower is offered me
eastern, most exotic of blooms
a balm, a joy, a boon to my life
brightening gloom with its heady perfumes ....

Alan McAlpine Douglas

[Black_Rose1990]

He Love's Me, He Love's Me Not


A flower was offered to me,
A part of a trap,
That I couldn't see,
Given to smooth over the lies,
 

A flower was offered to me,
With poisonous thorns that made me believe,
In some impossible dream,
Presented as an apology,


A flower was offered to me,
It's fragille beauty unseen,
A peace offering,
So I'd accept His presence in my life,


A flower was offered to me,
So I watch petals fall one by one,
Saying each time "He love's me, He love's me not"
The petals dance around me as I realise...
He never loved me.


 

[Ben]

Really enjoyed the two latest poems on this challenge, both very well done. Also good to see this thread come back after a long absence, was a good challenge.

Great work, karma to you both!

[Hannah]

Excellent! I find it fascinating how different expressions arise from the same thing, or a fragment of the same thing. It can be a lesson in how the same idea/s continue to be written in enough variety of ways to keep us enjoying and appreciating. I've enjoyed reading the different poems here. Anyone else want to have a go? Or another go? There is no end date on any of the challenges. 

 

Hannah