Wednesday, May 27, 2015

80


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...



Written in response to Susan's prompt today
Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Weeds/Weediness

31 comments:

  1. I love this. Weeds, yes the stongest, growing wild and free. Sky blue filled with clouds, that is a perfect description of my morning.

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  2. "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...

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  3. I loved how you depicted the life journey of the girl.. from youth to old age.. the description of clouds was so beautiful..! :D

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  4. 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,

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    1. Thanks for your kind comments Myrna; yes "somewhat biographical."

      much love...

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  5. I enjoyed learning about watergrass, and the reflection on childhood days. Lovely.

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  6. 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!

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    1. Thanks for your appreciation Susan

      much love...

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  7. Gillena,

    Loved your poem and also, the information you have shared about the viable health properties of Watergrass. Weeds are simply goodness in disguise:)
    Eileen

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  8. How we have grown up with the weeds and still love them.
    I am amazed at how little society trusts in nature's remedies.

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    1. Happy you dropped in to read mine Leslie

      much love...

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  9. Love your poem and the extra info.

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  10. This is beautiful and with that touch of sadness as the old woman remembers back when she was a child. I loved it.

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  11. Ah, taking photos of weeds really appeals to me. Weeds need to be recognized as important too!

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  12. What a wonderful weed! And what a lovely poem and story.

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  13. I love the symmetry here - speaks volumes about life's journey and joy in the simple things :)

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    1. Thanks for your appreviation Claire

      Much love...

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  14. What a wonderful journey through time..and growth...

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  15. Gathering feed from weeds. I've done that.

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    1. Thanks for dropping in to read mine GL

      much love...

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  16. 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.

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    1. Thank you for your appreciation Nicholas

      much love...

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