Behind the ferns,
A dragon shakes the rain
From golden scales,
Yawns, stretches and
Rises from her rest.
Human eyes are fooled,
By shadow and light,
A color camouflage:
We see only
An iris at its best.
Copyright 2015 Brenda Davis Harsham
Note: This dragon is dedicated to gardeners, landscapers, garden center owners and nature lovers everywhere. To people whose lives are dedicated to the transient, yet enduring, beauty of nature. If you’ve ever planted a single bulb or watered a houseplant, this is for you, too. And it’s already time for Poetry Friday again! How did that happen so fast? This week is hosted by Jama at Jama’s Alphabet Soup, a haven of tasty poetry.
47 thoughts on “Behind the Ferns”
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Friendly Fairy Tales 
Thank you Brenda for the dedication.. Loved your poem.. Enjoy your garden.. and Summer.. xox Hugs Sue
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Loving my garden, even if I discovered today that the bunnies have nibbled my baby kale almost to oblivion. Sigh. At least they left me some chard. So far. Have a great summer yourself! XOXO
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Oh wow this is wonderful! We are both dancing with ferns! How wonderful! I have always thought these flowers look like beards! Beautiful poem! I love all the purple flowers! You have quite a garden my friend! 💜💜❌❌❌
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This was in someone else’s garden. I love to look from the sidewalks. 🙂 XOXO
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OH me too I love sidewalks, paths, trails! We have like loves! ❤ that was funny! xoxo
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I suppose some people might misunderstand me as a nosy neighbor, but I don’t mean to intrude. Just to connect and be part of life. Still to be misunderstood is better than being ignored. 🙂
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Nicely done, Brenda – the poem is the perfect complement to the photo!
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Thanks, Matt. I hope your book signing is fun, fun, fun!!
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Enjoying your poetry and your lovely blog! 🙂
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Thanks you! Your site is terrific. I enjoyed reading about Pamela Beckford. She is inspiring, and so are you!
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You are cracking me up with your friend Andy, Brenda.
Okay, this was a great example of a flower, the Iris, that could be photographed many times but show uniquely different characters. Just feel redundant but: Wow!
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I’m glad you liked my little exchange with Andy. I like the iris, and I imagine it being visited by a robin. Even the bird will stop and take a look.
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This bird enjoys the view in your garden, helps me to feel connected to my friend, Brenda, too. 🙂
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I love this time of year. Everything is blooming, and I love being part of it!
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Gorgeous…on multiple levels. +0
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Oops, instead of +0, I meant to type =)
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I was just puzzling over that other one. I thought maybe you had left me a balloon. 🙂
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Thanks!
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I love iris!
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Me, too. 🙂
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I snuck back behind a spruce this week to capture an iris ‘dragon’, Brenda. Love that you showed us a new way to think about them. In your picture, that left side of the bloom looks like a little bird, to me at least. They are spectacular, aren’t they?
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The purple petals do resemble bird tail feathers to me, now that you mention it. I saw them as the horns on the dragon’s head. 🙂 I love that we all can see whatever we want. Thanks for commenting! 🙂
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An iris dragon…intriguing image of garden dweller; lovely photo too!
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Thanks! I like to think of dragons in my garden. And fairies. Sprites, children, you name it. Magical creatures of all varieties. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Voices and Visions.
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Gorgeous dragon, er, iris! Your poems and photos are simply magical :).
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Yeah, you couldn’t have said a nicer thing. Thanks!
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I saw a flying, caped fairy, at first. 🙂
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Excellent! I feel I’ve contributed to that. LOL
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I too loved this petite dragon! she is pretty! 🙂
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Thanks! 🙂 She seems to enjoy life.
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ooh, i love this dragon, brenda )
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Yeah! Thanks, Beth!
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What a beauty and a fitting poem in its honour.
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Thanks, Oliana!
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Ah you know me and dragons, Brenda — I love this one! And huzzah for the female dragon — don’t know why the males are so much more talked about. Perhaps the females are just better at stealth… 🙂
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Why are most dragons male? You’d think the female dragons would live longer. 😉
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Are those pretty flowers in your yard? Nice.. I liked your poetry too!
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I found this iris on a walk. I have some irises, but not this color. 🙂 And thanks!
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This is beautifully done!
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Thanks!
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The Iris, absolutely the most mesmerising in my book 🙂
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My favorite flower!
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It’s patterns are so intricate 🙂
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And so many colors and sizes, but all with that large, showy shape. And it’s not a slow unfurling, it’s an all or nothing — furled or full bloom. I like the directness in its brief bold blooming.
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You wrote it so poetically 🙂
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Thanks again!
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