Lessons of the Lilac

I am honored to be selected as the 2013 Lilac Poet for Spokane, WA.

My poem I wrote for the Festival was "unveiled" at the Lilac Luncheon, at the Davenport Hotel on May 13, 2013.

Lessons of the Lilac

In the front yard by the grayed wooden gates

…the Lilacs grew.

Masking the cans of trash where the milk-box waits

…the Lilacs grew.

A place now only of childhood memories

Sweet, sad, dark, light, full, alone…

This is the spot where the Lilacs grew.

Wild, untamed:

Pruning they did not know.

The Lilacs were left

Unattended: free to grow.

Overpowering in all their glory

Blooms ripe and full

Allowed freely to explore

Shape, size, potential.

Just like only a child once knew

Sweet, sad, dark, light, full, alone…

This is the spot where the Lilacs grew.

Trying their hardest to make a mark in this world

As if knowing their time would shortly fade

Imprinting their essence into the heart and senses

Of all who lavished in their smell, petals, delicate shade.

For surely this determined flower

Has given us mind of our own nature

…our own beauty

…our own power.

For one day we will discover too

A halting need to plant our roots.

Sweet, sad, dark, light, full, alone…

Just like the Lilacs do.

Carole Smith