Hello, dVerse Poets! This is Merril, and I hope you’re all enjoying poetry month (and whatever holidays you may be celebrating). I know I’m busy, so I’m going to make this as uncomplicated as possible.

Yesterday was the second anniversary of my mom’s death. Instead of dwelling on the sadness or writing a tribute, I want to think about something she loved–flowers and gardens. In her final years, we would take my mom to sit in a nearby garden whenever we could. My mom didn’t do any gardening, but she was an artist who often painted flowers, even when she could no longer see very well.

So today, I’m going to (quite shamelessly) steal Sarah’s example of using lists of names for poetry. I found a list of English country garden roses and picked the following names. Because this is poetry month, and many people are overwhelmed with prompts, I will make this very easy. Choose one—or more–of the names from the list below and use it in your poem OR as a title for your poem. Just to be clear, you can write in any style or form, and the poems do not have to be about roses or flowers. Have fun! I can’t wait to see what you come up with.

Absent Friends
Absolutely Fabulous
A Whiter Shade of Pale
Bobby Dazzler
Boule de Neige
Julia’s Kiss
Leaping Salmon
Pretty Jessica
Purple Tiger
Sylvia
Twice in a Blue Moon

A list of Country Garden Roses

Perhaps one of the most famous poems about roses is this one by Robert Burns. I once attended a wedding where the bride and groom were part of a choral group, and they joined the members of the group to sing this at the reception. It was a beautiful moment.

A Red, Red Rose
BY ROBERT BURNS
O my Luve is like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
O my Luve is like the melody
That’s sweetly played in tune. . .

Here’s a beautiful version by Eva Cassidy:

If you are new, here’s how to join us:

*Write a poem based on the writing challenge as described above. Post it on your blog or website.
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