see also 'Home Alone' a 'Watergrass haiga' 2008 here
WATER GRASS
The sky is blue, filled with morning cloud;
The little girl, must go to the grassy mound;
Passing about four houses, from her home;
Pull out the watergrass, whose flowers are blue;
Blue flowers, like cloud and sky, a delight to her;
The chickens, however, love to eat the green leaves;
That is why, her father, sends her to fetch some;
The sky is blue, filled with morning cloud;
The woman is old, yet, sky is azure as before;
She delights in taking photos, of all the weeds;
Some are red, some are white, and yes, some blue;
Blue, and growing wild and free, like on the mound;
Only now, she leaves them be, there are no chickens;
She had left that old homestead, years, years ago.
© gillena cox
Commelina
Here in Trinidad and Tobago we say 'watergrass'; it is also known as Asiatic Day flower
...In China it is used as a medicinal herb with febrifugal, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and diuretic effects. Additionally, it is also used for treating sore throats and tonsillitis. Recent pharmacological investigations have revealed that the Asiatic dayflower contains at least five active compounds. One of these, p-hydroxycinnamic acid, shows antibacterial activity, while another, D-mannitol, has an antitussive effect. In China and India the plant is also used as a vegetable and fodder crop...
Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Weeds/Weediness
I love this. Weeds, yes the stongest, growing wild and free. Sky blue filled with clouds, that is a perfect description of my morning.
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping in Annell
DeleteMuch love...
"Blue flowers, like cloud and sky, a delight to her;"....it's almost like a discovery... a happy celebration here Gillena...some things never change...
ReplyDeleteHappy you dropped in Sumana
DeleteMuch love...
I loved how you depicted the life journey of the girl.. from youth to old age.. the description of clouds was so beautiful..! :D
ReplyDeleteLots of love,
Sanaa
Thank you Gillena. I enjoyd your poem, which I assume is somewhat biographical. I also apprecite the description of the flower - both beautiful and medicinal. Healing is truly in nature,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind comments Myrna; yes "somewhat biographical."
Deletemuch love...
I enjoyed learning about watergrass, and the reflection on childhood days. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sherry
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Wow1 I love these kind of comparisons that show both similarity and change--Hidden is a truth about nature surviving while we change, and our need changes. In this there is hope. In your poem, it is pure beauty! Oh, were these weeds? Not being cultivated saved them for sure!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your appreciation Susan
Deletemuch love...
Gillena,
ReplyDeleteLoved your poem and also, the information you have shared about the viable health properties of Watergrass. Weeds are simply goodness in disguise:)
Eileen
Happy you dropped in Eileen
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How we have grown up with the weeds and still love them.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed at how little society trusts in nature's remedies.
Happy you dropped in to read mine Leslie
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Love your poem and the extra info.
ReplyDeleteThanks Debi
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This is beautiful and with that touch of sadness as the old woman remembers back when she was a child. I loved it.
ReplyDeleteHappy you dropped in Robin
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Ah, taking photos of weeds really appeals to me. Weeds need to be recognized as important too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit Mary
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What a wonderful weed! And what a lovely poem and story.
ReplyDeleteHappy you dropped in Rosemary
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I love the symmetry here - speaks volumes about life's journey and joy in the simple things :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your appreviation Claire
DeleteMuch love...
What a wonderful journey through time..and growth...
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping in Jae
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Gathering feed from weeds. I've done that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping in to read mine GL
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Lovely poem, Gillena! I really liked the hiatus of time between the two verses and the image of the blue-flowered weed linking them. There is wistfulness and nostalgia strongly stated in this.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your appreciation Nicholas
Deletemuch love...