Our rosebay rhododendron
is white with pink newness.
She soon sheds her baby’s blush.
Her deer-tongue leaves
wag constantly,
speaking to the wind.
Each lingering kiss of the
sun sends stars
shooting to her roots.
She wonders at suburbia,
with its quiet lawns, as she is
tuned to Appalachia’s music:
the bluegrass twangs, bango strums
and mandolin chords of
Appalachia’s scattered seeds.
Copyright 2017 Brenda Davis Harsham
Notes: This photo was taken in June, along a wooded path. It reminded me of when I saw wild rhododendrons blooming in Appalachia, whole mountains of blooms. In contrast, they seem out of place in suburbia, either running riot, taking over most of the garden, or pruned and confined to a small space. In Appalachia, they achieve both balance and boldness. If you’re interested, click here to listen to mandolin as Stuart Duncan, Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile play brilliant music with a touch of Appalachia.
So lovely rhododendron ❤
😃
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Thanks! They are magnificent in towering bloom.
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Oh! You’re welcome. 😃
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So so so pretty 🙂
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Thanks, Morgan.
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Lovely poetry! How wonderful that you know the beauty of Appalachia! I think only some do. I did costumes for a movie set in Appalachia years ago. Nothing near this beautiful was depicted.
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I used to visit WV every year. I lived in NC. I visited and hiked in the blue ridge area. I highly recommend Chimney Rock park in late March. To die for beautiful.
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So good to know! I wish our movie would have shown bits of that. Instead it was all coal mines and poverty, which is what it was about. However, some beauty would have made a fabulous juxtaposition.
Holly Hunter did an amazing job as the star!
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What an exotic job you have. I love it. Parts of WV were all coal slag heaps and dirt-road poverty. Yet there was beauty and resilience, too.
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I always wanted a rhododendron. They are beautiful. And so is your poem!
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They are beautiful, Claudia. XOXO
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Lovely poem! I like the idea of a flower feeling nostalgic. I’ve never been to Appalachia, but I like the music.
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Appalachia is beautiful. A world apart.
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Magnificent! 😎😎😎😎😎
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Thank you, Dorna!
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Beautiful
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Thanks!
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🙂
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oh, i love the colors and your words. how interesting how they grow so differently in different environments. just like people.
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Yes, the environment is key to decoding a person or a plant. Looking forward to the new school year?
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A very pretty poem, Brenda.
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Thanks!
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So pretty
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Thanks, Alex.
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Beautiful…! ☺️
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Thank you!
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Wonderful.
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Thanks!
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Beautiful pic and words ❤
https://projectmusings9.com
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Thanks!
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