Sometimes poetry results from an event, an observation of something, rare, unusual and worthy of extra attention. The moment, the experience, becomes too significant to ignore, or let slide without acknowledging its impact...
Last Saturday morning, my wife, Vicki alerted me to something quite unusual taking place in the sky above our house. She called me to come and look for myself. The sky was littered with a host of airborne dandelion seeds blowing in from the south of the peninsula. They stood out markedly against the blue Autumn sky. They were certainly in profusion. We were fascinated and began speculating as to the cause of such a significant seed migration. I recall how we referred to them as 'fairies' when we were children. Subsequently, it became apparent that this phenomenon had been widespread across the neighbourhood. A magical migration.
Curiosity aroused, I did some research, not knowing at the time, it would all lead to the writing of a poem. Gradually, though, a poem began to rise up; words floated around me, tempting me to produce words upon a page in my notebook. I rehearsed them for a couple of days before picking up my pen...
Writers react.
Carried On The Wind-Anemochory
A mass of dandelion seeds light and featheryElevated on the warm morning breeze
Dominant in the Saturday sky.
Borne on the autumn air
-A squad of delicate parachutes
With feathery bristles
Keep the seeds aloft.
Flimsy, fluffy puffballs
Seemingly weightless
Equipped with gauzy pappus
Prepare to float free from the host.
The slightest of breezes
Disperses them widely
Over long distances
At the whim
At the whim
of
the
wind.
They flutter to the ground
Across motorways and mountains.
Where they settle new habitats
Primitive, yet effective
Seed migration.
A mass of dandelion seeds light and feathery
Elevated on the warm morning breeze.
Elevated on the warm morning breeze.
Alan j Wright
It is yet again Poetry Friday!. Our host this week is Heidi Mordhorst at My Juicy Little Universe, This week, Heidi presents a post highlighting a chronological tribute to ODES, before presenting a couple of powerful odes of her own. Please visit to discover much to delight a poet's heart.
Alan, your careful crafting of this poem is in ample evidence! I like the way you came back around to those opening lines, and how you slow-mo'd the whole experience for us. Happy autumn to you!
ReplyDeleteThank you Heidi. Glad you liked the circular ending. May spring deliver delight!
DeleteIt is an opportunity as you witness something extraordinary to take note and think of a poem. It is a miracle you witnessed and through form and "at a whim" described it through a poem. Thanks for sharing, Alan.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed an opportunity and a natural miracle as well. The poem provided me with a unique vehicle for sharing this phenomenon. I feel fortunate. So glad you enjoyed it.
DeleteAlan, that is a beautiful poem with lovely words and devices, and it also teaches some science about this amazing migration. I love "-A squad of delicate parachutes"
ReplyDeleteThank you Denise. Yes, some science has found its way into the poem. It is so contextually fitting. I learnt some new terminology too.
DeleteNew words are always a pleasure, Alan, so thank you for 'anemochory' and "puppus" (both of which Grammarly are fighting me about) and since I did not see this surprise, now you've shown it in your poem, letting all of us know "the whim of the wind". Sometimes I'll see just one seed, flying along on its own path. I actually also love your title - 'A Poem Carried on the Wind'! Happy Weekend!
ReplyDeleteThe word, anemochory was new to me as well, Linda. New words have a certain charm, often difficult to resist. Many thanks.
DeleteLovely dandelion poem--I especially like "at the whim of the wind"
ReplyDeleteThanks Buffy. The wind is such a control freak at times- and not just for dandelion seeds.
DeleteAlan, I have never seen such a phenomenon of nature like you did. This description, Flimsy, fluffy puffballs, presents such a clear picture of the mass of airborn dandelion seeds,Thanks for the descriptive poem.
ReplyDeleteIt was pleasure to be able to share such a phenomenon, Carol. Thank you for your kind response to my flimsy, fluffy visitors.
DeleteSo beautiful you not only witnessed this miracle, but captured the glimpse in a poem. Thank you for writing and sharing it!
ReplyDeleteI was indeed, most fortunate, Patricia. It adds another line to my list of fortunate life events- of which there have been many. Thank you reminding me of this.
DeleteI have a special weakness for bookends in prose or poetry, when the last lines echo the first, as you have done here. There are so many lovely lines in this poem like "borne on the autumn air," and "at the whim of the wind." But I think I was most taken with the explanation of your process from first inspiration to research to rehearsing lines in your head. I do quite a bit of internal writing as well, and I suddenly got an image of poets walking through life talking to themselves. Thanks for sharing, Alan.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, Rose. I share your weakness for bookends. So glad you enjoyed both the poem and the process that brought it into being. I'm honest enough to admit, I do a lot of talking to myself as part of the process, mostly it's internal. Mostly...
DeleteWow! I *LOVE* the story AND all of the science vocabulary words in this poem, Alan! --Anastasia
ReplyDeleteThank you Anastasia. So glad you had a good time wandering among my words.
DeleteSuch a beautiful and entrancing poem about dandelion anemochory! I love this stanza especially for it feels like they are preparing for flight, and you take us along too,
ReplyDelete"Flimsy, fluffy puffballs
Seemingly weightless
Equipped with gauzy pappus
Prepare to float free from the host."
Appreciations Alan for this delightful journey and the new words along the way too!
Thank you Michelle for your generous remarks. Always appreciated. Glad you gained something from the journey. I too like the words you have highlighted. it was fun to find them in the making of this poem.
DeleteEach word, "light and feathery" and well chosen, Alan. I won't be able to look at dandelion fluff the same way again. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Bridget. Enjoy your updated perspective on dandelion fluff in the upcoming summer.
DeleteResearch that leads to a poem or poems is my my favorite! I love how those seeds carried you into writing.
ReplyDelete