See Something New

Return of Happiness

Our optional prompt for the day is based on the concept of the language of flowers. Have you ever heard, for example, that yellow roses stand for friendship, white roses for innocence, and red roses for love? Well, there are as many potential meanings for flowers as there are flowers. The Victorians were particularly ga-ga for giving each other bouquets that were essentially decoder-rings of meaning. For today, I challenge you to write a poem in which one or more flowers take on specific meanings. And if you’re having trouble getting started, why not take a gander at this glossary of flower meanings? (You can find a plain-text version here). Feel free to make use of these existing meanings, or make up your own.

Every May when the lily of the valleys begin to bloom,
"the return of happiness," their white heads sing;
stories and laughter, like a chorus, fill the room
every May when the lily of the valleys begin to bloom.
Lady's slipper - wear me, win me, hollow echoes ring
as laughter disappears, tears and the fog loom-
every May when the lily of the valleys begin to bloom,
and gluten-free birthday celebrations next to your tomb.