May 16, 2012
Nature Insight: Random Bouquet
Copyright 2012 by DM Denton
The old ink bottle did quite well for
holding thoughts that randomly put a
bouquet on the windowsill and
memory on some passing page
of windflowers from filtered
woods, kingcups from the water’s
side–while spotted lungwort,
first buds of buttercup,
and also bird’s eye
forget-me-nots found
me lost in my
garden, as if
unaware
that I let
them grow
there.
©Artwork and writing, unless otherwise indicated, are the property of Diane M Denton. Please request permission to reproduce or post elsewhere with a link back to bardessdmdenton. Thank you.
Ina said,
May 16, 2012 at 12:10 pm
Hi Diane,
I also have a little bouquet of flowers that just grow uninvited in my garden, like buttercups and dandelion, and something white, and they look so pretty 
this is lovely again
bardessdmdenton said,
May 16, 2012 at 3:47 pm
Hi Ina. Thanks! Yes, I love those garden bouquets that just arrange themselves…I am more and more appreciative of them as I want to ‘interfere’ with nature less and less.
cavepainter said,
May 16, 2012 at 12:18 pm
The art is really nice. It’s both bold with the dark lines and delicate at the same time.
bardessdmdenton said,
May 16, 2012 at 3:54 pm
Thank you so much! I have this compulsion to ‘outline’…sometimes I wonder if I should… Have just been over to your blog and love what I saw so far. I am a follower!
Caddo Veil said,
May 16, 2012 at 2:55 pm
Of course I loved this, Diane–your unashamed fan, I am. I especially like the words, “forget-me-nots found me lost”–I may have taken them out of context, but they really ministered to my heart and soul today–so thank you very much! (Very, very much) I’m wondering if I might email you, and if so, do I use the earthlink address? You offered some comments recently on my poems, which made me want to “chat”–but I’m aware you may be too busy for such trivialities. God bless your day abundantly–sending love, Caddo
bardessdmdenton said,
May 16, 2012 at 3:58 pm
You may take anything I write wherever you need! That’s the wonderful thing about connecting through creativity…the giving it away, as it were, for others to use (and hopefully not abuse) as they need. And to know that something ministered to you heart is such a complement! Yes, please email me on the earthlink address. I would love to chat! Blessings! Diane XO
granbee said,
May 16, 2012 at 3:13 pm
I love this concept of the wildflowers being unaware they were “permitted” to grow in your garden! And the old ink bottle is the perfect vase here! This one is pure joy, Diane!
bardessdmdenton said,
May 16, 2012 at 3:59 pm
Thank you, Granbee! Yes, nature can be so wonderful without our interference! Blessings!
Archana said,
May 16, 2012 at 3:14 pm
And we do not realise for years, how they’ve been growing right under our nose, unnoticed.
Wonderful poem, Diane!
bardessdmdenton said,
May 16, 2012 at 4:03 pm
Thank you so much, Archana! I so appreciate your visit and beautiful comment.
Fergiemoto said,
May 17, 2012 at 1:40 am
Very lovely – words and art! I like how you cleverly tied the writing, artwork, and flowers all together in a nice poem package. That was the interpretation that came to mind.
bardessdmdenton said,
May 17, 2012 at 5:07 pm
And a perfect interpretation! I enjoy getting my inspiration from those things that are visual and also with a secret life too…just as you do so wonderfully! Thank you!
MaryEllen Carlo said,
May 17, 2012 at 10:03 am
Beautiful thoughts of spring and summer!
bardessdmdenton said,
May 17, 2012 at 5:11 pm
Thank, MaryEllen! Have a wonderful weekend in spring that looks like it will seem like summer!
Laurel's Reflections said,
May 17, 2012 at 4:50 pm
You are still absolutely one of my favourite creators in the whole world. You never fail to delight and enchant me. I particularly loved
‘forget-me-nots found
me lost in my
garden, as if
unaware
that I let
them grow
there’
Your words evoke so much… that lovely sense of being ‘lost’ somewhere so safe and well-known; of being ‘found’ in such a gentle manner by these beauties, the things that we leave to blossom, a mutual giving of space and pleasure…
bardessdmdenton said,
May 17, 2012 at 5:16 pm
Dear Laurel, I’m so so flattered by your comment, and delighted by your delight! So much so I can only think to echo your very special words which have made my day brighter and lighter and more precious…
‘…that lovely sense of being ‘lost’ somewhere so safe and well-known; of being ‘found’ in such a gentle manner by these beauties, the things that we leave to blossom, a mutual giving of space and pleasure…’
Thank you for all your encouragement and support…I can’t even begin to express how much it means to me! Love and hugs, Diane
Betty Hayes Albright said,
May 18, 2012 at 6:22 pm
Diane, this is a lovely bouquet of words (and as always I love the painting!) And great ending words:
“as if
unaware
that I let
them grow
there.”
I’ve had that feeling, out in my garden with the wildflowers.
fivereflections said,
May 18, 2012 at 7:09 pm
i imagine you growing a beautiful herb garden
bardessdmdenton said,
May 19, 2012 at 4:12 pm
It’s designed…to be rather wild!
bardessdmdenton said,
May 19, 2012 at 4:09 pm
Hi Betty! Thank you so much. Yes, some of the most endearing flowers just plant themselves, their persistence so admirable!
Betty Hayes Albright said,
May 19, 2012 at 9:27 pm
Yes, and trees! We were “gifted” with what has become a beautiful dogwood tree about 15 years ago. A squirrel or bird must’ve dropped the seed – in just the perfect spot. (No other white dogwoods on our street, so it came from a long ways away.) Don’t you just love when that happens?
bardessdmdenton said,
May 21, 2012 at 5:18 pm
Yes, Betty, I do…little miracles are all around us!
fivereflections said,
May 18, 2012 at 7:08 pm
flowers in an old ink bottle – those flowing fragrant thoughts dripping from a quill
David in Maine USA
bardessdmdenton said,
May 19, 2012 at 4:10 pm
Thanks, David. So enjoyed your comment!
lscotthoughts said,
May 19, 2012 at 12:31 am
This poem is beautiful in its elegance and graceful imagery and your artwork is just lovely, Diane!
bardessdmdenton said,
May 19, 2012 at 4:13 pm
A bouquet of thanks for you, Lauren! Blessings.
Barbara Rodgers said,
May 20, 2012 at 10:31 am
What a lovely wildflower bouquet and poem… I love the idea of the forget-me-nots discovering you in their garden, not knowing that you have welcomed them into your garden!
bardessdmdenton said,
May 21, 2012 at 5:19 pm
Hi Barbara! So pleased you enjoyed this little bouquet. Thanks so much!
countingducks said,
May 23, 2012 at 4:15 am
These are lovely soothing words. It reminds us that the flowers quite possibly lived on that place long before it was our garden.
bardessdmdenton said,
May 23, 2012 at 5:42 pm
Thank you for you visit and lovely comment! We should all enjoy the randomness of our gardens, perhaps more than the parts we planned…
Thomas Davis said,
May 24, 2012 at 10:08 pm
Diane, Ralph Waldo Emerson was the one who gave us permission to use lists to help make a poem. “Bare lists of words are found suggestive, to an imaginative and excited mind,” he said. “Nature offers all her creatures to him (the poet) as a picture- language.” This poem gains its power from the list of flowers you present as residing in an old ink bottle. You have taken both of these quotations from Emerson’s essay, The Poet, and bottled them up into a feast for the excited mind, the picture of language. This and the drawing are delightful.
bardessdmdenton said,
May 28, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Hi Thomas! Thank you so much for your, as always, engaged and engaging comment. I had been aware of this little piece as a list…hadn’t thought of the Emerson quote but am so glad you pointed it out as I hadn’t read his essay for a long time. It seemed so natural to me to let the flowers ‘speak’ for themselves. They are beautiful art and poetry already, aren’t they? Perhaps, sometimes, it is the poet’s role to just let them be…a feeling of falling where they will, just like the little bouquet in the ink bottle. I am a very visual writer, even in prose, and love your phrase ‘the picture of language’! Thank you again!
Bodhirose said,
May 24, 2012 at 11:44 pm
Just lovely…a charming poem of wayward gifts that show up in our gardens and a beautiful piece of artwork to accompany it. I love your nature drawings so much..so delicate and appealing to my taste.
bardessdmdenton said,
May 28, 2012 at 3:18 pm
Hi Gayle! I love your phrase ‘wayward gifts’ for that is the treat and charm of flowers growing where they will, isn’t it? That we can relinquish having to do anything but enjoy them and honor their generosity. I am so glad this was to your liking!
kathryningrid said,
May 29, 2012 at 1:02 am
And thus the poet draws the bouquet and the bouquet draws itself up from a bottle of ink.
bardessdmdenton said,
May 30, 2012 at 5:02 pm
What a lovely lovely comment. Thank you!
weisserwatercolours said,
May 31, 2012 at 6:13 am
You have the magic touch with flowers, Diane–I’m so glad I stopped in. Forgive my tardiness! ‘Kingcups from the water’s side’ just brings such a warm feeling.
bardessdmdenton said,
June 2, 2012 at 7:45 pm
Thank you for ‘stopping in’, Lance, and for your lovely comment! I am so glad you enjoyed this one. I wish I had more time to paint all the flowers ‘that appear’ this time of year (thanks goodness for digital cameras!). Kingcups or Marsh Marigolds are among my favorites (and so are a zillion others…)
Malou said,
June 1, 2012 at 5:31 pm
Beautiful play with words which capture something very vivid! My daughter loves picking wild flowers and bringing them home to me to put in a vase.
bardessdmdenton said,
June 2, 2012 at 7:48 pm
Thank you, Malou, for your visit and kind lovely comment! What a beautiful thing for your daughter to do. I love informal bouquets. One of those blessings money can’t buy!