Happy Poetry Friday! I’ve been patiently waiting for the weather to warm. The flowering plants are waiting too… I’m sharing a dizain poem and painting about my peonies and their journey this spring. I learned about the dizain from Molly Hogan’s lyrically moving dizain called Rainy Spring Lament that she wrote last week and decided to try one, thanks Molly.
I’m taking a weekend get-away to see the Whitney Biennial in NYC and hope to catch some of the Poetry Friday posts on my return.
Margaret Simon has graciously taken my place this week and is hosting the Poetry Friday Roundup at her blog Reflections on the Teche. Be sure to stop by her blog for your fill of poetry goodness! Thanks for hosting Margaret!
PERSISTANT PEONIES
Ants on the peonies barely moving,
robust buds slightly shriveled and forlorn,
is their sweet nectar now disapproving,
the weather’s been withdrawn and woebegone.
And blooms–have they taken an about turn–
Will we miss their fine feathery fanfare,
their rich, enrapturing, awesome affair…
I’ve waited all year for their dainty dance,
delicate curtsy, and savoir-faire flare–
Here’s hoping warmth’l enhance their meager stance.
© 2019 Michelle Kogan
Addendum to the weather… Perhaps Mother Nature heard my cries for we had a gorgeous and warm spring-like day following my writing this poem.
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
I haven’t tried this form yet. It intimidates me. Your poem is such a rich call to the peonies. Love “I’ve waited all year for their dainty dance,
delicate curtsy, and savoir-faire flare–” Have a wonderful trip!
Yes, I am hoping for warmth for these peonies, too! Well done with this form… not easy! xo
Mine are up, but no blooming yet! I see ants everywhere, sure they are waiting. This is terrific, Michelle, a tough challenge well-done. Have a wonderful weekend!
I just learned that ants are a must in order for peonies to bloom. I love the fine, feathery fanfare line. Now I need to find out about dizain. Enjoy the conference.
Lovely poem and painting — I’m rooting for your peonies. 🙂
Beautiful, Michelle. I’m still thinking about the dizain… counting syllables and rhyming for 10 lines is definitely a challenge. We had a week of beautiful warm days and my roses began to bloom… then cool rainy weather struck us with some wind and now they’re all bent over, hanging their heads down. 😦
A dizain about my favorite flowers! I especially like “is their sweet nectar now disapproving,” and using “woebegone” — what a great word, perfect for the mood!
You’ve captured your peonies well. We have some peonies outside of our kitchen window, and your poem reminded me that when they bloom, I can look forward to ants traveling from their petals into my kitchen. Love my eponies. Not so thrilled with the ants in the kitchen.
Your art always melts my heart, MIchelle. Both your paintings/drawings & your poems.
This peony painting & this dizzain form – demanding & you aced it.
And I owe you a visit at your art gallery sales shop at etsy to thank you for the lovely package in the mail!
Hoping the Whitney B was all you wanted it to be. Brava! for you. Did you have a special connection this time or is this a yearly trek?
Hi Jan, thanks for stopping by! Glad you enjoyed the package. I like to get out to see the Whitney Biennial, I was there 2 years ago–and then in NYC about 1 1/2 years ago. Always so much art to view there…
Hope you came home to blooming peonies! I’m admiring all the dizains I’ve been reading recently, but am somewhat intimidated by the form and the excellence of what you all have created!