Many months ago I stumbled across a blog called,
New Hampshire Garden Solutions, which took me through the icy winter months and then happily through spring. I've learned quite a bit about NH wildflowers that I didn't know, and even more about some flowers I was already familiar with. Then, I came across a quote by Lydia M. Child at the bottom of a recent
NH Garden Solutions post, "Flowers have spoken to me more than I can tell in written words. They are the hieroglyphics of angels, loved by all men for the beauty of their character, though few can decipher even fragments of their meaning."
It fit nicely with my Sketchbook Project theme and resulted in the poem below. A big "thank you" to NH Garden Solutions blogger, Allen Norcross! I asked his permission to use a photo he had taken, and he generously shared the photo with me. Summer officially begins this weekend, so I think this is a good way to end Spring!
Click on the image to enlarge for easier reading. Poem © Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. Photo © Allen Norcross, used with permission.
Mary Lee is hosting the Poetry Friday Round-Up at
Year of Reading.
Diane, this combination of poem, quote, and images is stunning and definitely eye-catching. It gives me much food for thought for future digital designs. Perhaps, it should grace the summer gallery I will create. What do you think? Love this one!
ReplyDeleteSure, I'd be happy to share. I will send you the jpg.
DeleteAbsolutely gorgeous, Diane -- a beautiful presentation of your lovely poem -- maybe one of my all time favorites of yours? :) The "hieroglyphics of angels" is awesome.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like it, Jama. It is a fine quote!
DeleteBrowsing the summer's library shelves. I love hearing of your process and how you are using flower info and story to inform your poetry.
ReplyDeleteThere are very few poems written that I haven't done some research for! I'm always afraid I'm going to use some fact or word incorrectly and get called on it. Or worse, confuse someone!
Delete"The hieroglyphics of angels"... how perfect is that... and YES, let's browse those summer library shelves! Wonderful, Diane.
ReplyDeleteAnd just like at the library, you can't judge a book by its cover. Some of the prettiest flowers can be deadly.
DeleteHere's the third cheer for your "summer library shelves" of floral reading!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary Lee! I'm cheering for your summer vacation. Enjoy it!
DeleteI hope you find volumes on honeysuckle and dahlia!!
ReplyDeleteHmm--I think this must be the Lydia Maria Child that we Unitarian Universalists claim as our own, who wrote "Over the River and Through the Woods." Flowers as hieroglyphics of anything is wonderful, and of angels is exquisite. You might like this book by another writer who found stories in the mouths of plants: Weeds and Wildflowers by Alice Oswald.
ReplyDeleteLove the blending of quote, picture and poem! They are beautiful in their own rights but exquisite together!
ReplyDelete