Comment from sweetwoodjax

Exceptional

this is beautiful, zinnia, I am glad that your health crisis is over and you are okay. great imagery presented in your free verse. I used to be scared of sunflowers as a child

 Comment Written 23-Jul-2014

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reply by the author on 23-Jul-2014

Thanks for reading and commenting, and I hope your relationship with sunflowers is happier! Caroline

Comment from mfowler

Excellent

This is lovely. Your poem is infused with joy and gratitude for the reveries of summer life. Your free formed verse allows you to express with clarity, the prayer for life that exists within you. Your clever references to Russian sage and 'perfume of Persephone' show a poetic sensibility which encompasses all ways of knowing the summer experience. There is a feel of a basic reverence and worship for life found in references to:
a creature of this summered earth
praying for one more season to sit silently before sunflowers
carrying me up to the paradise of each fringed halo
a colony of heavens in my backyard

I lie prostrate intoxicated before Her.

Your exceptional use of alliterative phrases gives the poem a strong underlying rhythm:Summer sun filters through layers of leaves

 Comment Written 23-Jul-2014

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reply by the author on 23-Jul-2014

Thank you so much for your specific comments. Your support is appreciated beyond words. Caroline

Comment from Eric1

Excellent

Hi Caroline, firstly, I am so glad that your illness has passed, A health scare allows you to look at everything with fresh eyes, this is what you have done so wonderfully here,I am constantly being scorned for lack of punctuation, so I'm pleased to see that you think it doesn't matter that much either, I have been bullied sometimes into adding commas and full stops that I don't think are necessary, when added I feel they detract from my work, This is a beautiful free verse with great imagery seen through the eyes of someone born again, Excellent

 Comment Written 23-Jul-2014

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reply by the author on 23-Jul-2014

Thanks, Eric. Actually I am frequently bullied (especially in poetry courses) for using punctuation, and have had to discipline myself to ignore the impulse to add commas...Thankyou so much for reading and commenting. I really do feel born again.

reply by Eric1 on 23-Jul-2014

You are welcome Zinnia.

reply by Eric1 on 23-Jul-2014

You are welcome Zinnia.

Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell

Excellent

Sometimes it takes a scare to appreciate what we have. Summer is a lovely season, but so are the spring and autumn, each has its own beauty. Your poem has as much wonderful imagery as that lovely illustration. A pleasure to read. xsx sandra

 Comment Written 23-Jul-2014

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reply by the author on 23-Jul-2014

Thanks, Sandra. I do love all of the seasons. Autumn is actually my favorite. If I had had a health scare in winter, I would have been mourning never seen that particular shade of gray sky, sleet, and bitter cold! I appreciate your comments and am grateful that you took time to read. Caroline

Comment from l.raven

Excellent

HI Carolyn, I can so relate to your notes...I love your poem....the beauty of your wonderful garden...I love the poem and your picture is beautiful...so very well expressed....and very well written...****** Luff Linda xxoo

 Comment Written 22-Jul-2014

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reply by the author on 23-Jul-2014

Thanks, Linda. If I couldn't live at home, I think i would mourn my loss of the garden more than anything else (iincluding family!) Thanks for stopping by, and for your gracious comments. Caroline

reply by l.raven on 23-Jul-2014

you are so welcome Carolyn....I felt that way about leaving all my beautiful roses the last time I move...sigh...xxoo luff

Comment from vfbryant

Excellent

Absolutely beautiful. I can relate so well to the images you paint so clearly, and I have felt these same incredible emotions as I smell the soil in my hands or peer deep inside a purple iris. It truly is a worshipful experience, and you captured it well. Lovely.

 Comment Written 22-Jul-2014

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reply by the author on 22-Jul-2014

Thank you so much for sharing your own experience! Caroline

Comment from Selina Stambi

Excellent

this summered earth .. this is a gorgeous phrase

I wallowed in the beautiful garden images and phraseology. I'm SO in love with my garden and oh, how your poem resonated within my spirit.

Loved it!

So glad all's well with you, Caroline. Such scares make one pause, ponder and be very grateful, right?

Love,

Sonali :)

 Comment Written 22-Jul-2014

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reply by the author on 22-Jul-2014

Thanks, Sonali--My garden is my primary relationship, I think. It's good to have others to share that passion with. thanks for stopping by. Caroline

Comment from acerisestory

Excellent

Upon reading other reviews, zinnia, I am pleased to hear that your health is better than it was. Your poem is full of lovely imagery. Being a worshipper of flowers myself, I was fully caught up in your poem. The flow of your free verse is wonderful, and you've made great use of alliteration.

I particularly am moved by your last stanza:

Let me be born again in each summer sky
Continuous convert to her mysteries.

Thank you for sharing, and be well. Alana

 Comment Written 22-Jul-2014

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reply by the author on 22-Jul-2014

Thanks, alana--I appreciate your support! Caroline

Comment from Charlene0513

Excellent

To Zinnia48,
Life is not only precious but it is God's gift unto us all.
To enjoy and be refreshed of all of Mother nature's scents.
Mixed metaphor: a colony of heavens in my backyard.
A compelling use of enjambments.
Charlene

 Comment Written 22-Jul-2014

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reply by the author on 22-Jul-2014

Thanks, Charlene, for the feedback. I appreciate your time. Caroline

Comment from Dorothy Farrell

Excellent

Hi Caroline - Firstly, I'm glad your health scare is past. When something like that happens we learn to appreciate some of the simple things in life that we took for granted. We see them with new eyes. This is what you have done in this lovely free verse. You have written such lovely poetic words. (wee typo 'prostate' - I think you mean 'prostrate') but this in no way detracts from the beauty of your poem. Stay well and keep writing. Kind Regards Dorothy

 Comment Written 22-Jul-2014

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reply by the author on 22-Jul-2014

Ohhh, too funny. I never caught the misspelling till now, and will rush right over to the edit key! Thank you for taking time to read and review! Caroline