The Bearded Iris On Black Poem by Gerardine Baugh

Intermingled with deep, dark shades of blue and purple,

Sky bright coalesce with the sweetest of rose

subtle soft, white, golden yellow

blood red, vivid fuzzy bearded orange

Veins spread downward along the inflorescence fall of petals

fanning outward…

Trailing the eye to sweep the richness of blue

Converging within its delicate petals

like a butterflies wings. Once handled they lose a piece of themselves

What attracts you; beauty and colour, will wither under a heavy hand

Associated within symbolistic designs

Our lives so much like the Iris

spring up with intent and excitement,

Only, under a hot glaring gaze we wilt

The Iris can’t move out of the suns rays, so the opposite it thrives

So heavy and over bearing the delicate Iris soaks up the radiance

As we can shift our place

to one of deceptive safety

In its sweet, short span of beauty

sweltering heat will curtail its time above ground

For an Iris can hide within its roots

Its rhizomes are set without knowing

chance; can pull it from the ground

The Iris stretches towards the sun

then it withers in the heat

Its tender pedals, unlike humans

The Iris has a secret

Taking its flower, deep in richly painted colours

And the stem of deep greens stalks that rise up

Its vantage point; leaves heavy, with emerald hues

pulling back into itself

hiding from the elements

just under the surface

where unbeknownst to the wind, heat and cold

it survives once more. Waiting for those few days

in spring, when it reaches upward…again

Rejoicing in its life

When seen, it does not move or hide

standing tall and waiting

Existing as it was meant too

Not making an attempt to be a dandelion, or a superficial Lily

Only an Iris that lives its life passing on its joy

Through the spectacle of its beauty

Sensations of intense colours and smells

What would I have become; If I were allowed to be as the Iris

Living my Life; Veridicality…