Hollyhocks

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Billy
Posts: 1384
Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 10:56

Hollyhocks

#1 Post by Billy » 15 Jan 2021, 02:12

Hollyhocks

I remember beauty mixed
with ugliness. Hollyhocks

growing in cinders in the alley.
The flowers grow hair

like the hairs in an old man's ear.
A totem of old men's ears

on a thick stalk, a talisman
of shrunken heads. Beside

a rickety, rotting shed
they loiter like freaks hiding

from sight, from judgmental
stares of people with gardens

of prize-winning roses
and chrysanthemums.

When I was 6 or 7 walking
home from school I stuck

to the alleys. A little fear mixed
with adventure. Hollyhocks

watching over me, listening,
showing me how to hide.

BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Re: Hollyhocks

#2 Post by BobBradshaw » 15 Jan 2021, 07:19

This is gorgeous, from beginning to end. I love it! The imagery is so imaginative, and the poem grows organically. A nom for sure. This poem makes my day!

meenas17
Posts: 822
Joined: 23 Mar 2014, 11:27

Re: Hollyhocks

#3 Post by meenas17 » 15 Jan 2021, 17:23

it is gorgeous, as Bob says, from first to last.
meenas17

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Billy
Posts: 1384
Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 10:56

Re: Hollyhocks

#4 Post by Billy » 16 Jan 2021, 00:18

Thanks Bob and Meenas, I felt this one like when you hit golf ball and know that it went where you wanted it.

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