I've been following my extremely talented artist sister (@KirstiRingger on Instagram)—her drawing contributions to #Inktober this month are off the charts. I'm late to the game, but decided that I'd use the daily prompts to write something instead of draw, for the last 10 days of the month. My "ink" pictures will be of my very hasty, daily drafts! Today's prompt: #TREASURE. There is a tree that I've been in love with for years, so I decided to write about her specifically.
Harlequin Glorybower
As if it weren’t enough
that in late summer she blooms
white fragrant stars, mocking jasmine,
extending trembling threads of stamens,
blushing shy pink underneath--
As if it weren’t enough
that, when bruised,
her hand-sized, heart-shaped, hair-soft
leaves emit the smell of peanut butter
(what insouciance in the face of injury)--
As if it weren’t enough
that when her flowers drop, each waxy
calyx hardens into a fuchsia tiara,
a pointed pink collar--
As if that weren’t enough,
inside each crown,
She’s Placed The Treasure:
a perfect, indigo pearl,
an autumn jewel replacing every summer flower,
A transaction
in the inky currency
of winter’s tongue.
that in late summer she blooms
white fragrant stars, mocking jasmine,
extending trembling threads of stamens,
blushing shy pink underneath--
As if it weren’t enough
that, when bruised,
her hand-sized, heart-shaped, hair-soft
leaves emit the smell of peanut butter
(what insouciance in the face of injury)--
As if it weren’t enough
that when her flowers drop, each waxy
calyx hardens into a fuchsia tiara,
a pointed pink collar--
As if that weren’t enough,
inside each crown,
She’s Placed The Treasure:
a perfect, indigo pearl,
an autumn jewel replacing every summer flower,
A transaction
in the inky currency
of winter’s tongue.
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