In Praise Of The Lowly Marigold Poem by David Whalen

<center>Let us speak today
Of Marigolds
Those many petaled
Precious metal hued
Little circles, of many folds

Oft o’ershadowed
By the towering Roses
In their overbearing
And imposing …Nay!
“Imperial” poses!

Marigolds…oft measured
By the meter of Inchworms
Are found to measure up
To somewhat more crinkly standards
Tho’ have all the appeal (and appearance)
Of a new-born Shar Pei Pup

Their fragrance:
unlike that of Roses
Is a scent that requires
The most sensitive and
Discerning of noses

They’re shy, familial
They gather in groups
Are often found huddling (and cuddling)
Beside stairways
And stoops

So today, if you will
Place a few
on your windowsill
And the pleasures
You’ll reap
will be without measure

They will love to sit high
And for once tower o’er
And peer down at the Roses
To whom they once
Were much lower

Those crinkled and crumpled
Creatures, of silken crepe
Unable to tower,
to climb
Or to drape…

So I shall laud long
In voice loud
Proud and bold (and not lightly)
Today I shall praise highly
…The lowly Marigold…

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