Tags
any form, any topic, daisies, Mary Oliver, OLN, one poem, open link night, planting, spring
Hello dear poet friends. The pub is open!
Mish here, happy to be your host for Open Link Night.
You are free to link up ONE poem, old or new, any topic or style. If you missed joining in with a recent prompt before it closed, you have a chance to share your poem here. There is also an optional Mini-Prompt below if you are looking for inspiration.
Lately, the weather here has been quite kind to us with warmer days, blue skies and the perfect sprinkle of rain to nurture all we have planted. With my shady trees, the planting is minimal. I did tidy up my herb garden full of thyme, rosemary, parsley, oregano, chives, mint and sage. My beloved basil seems to do better in a pot. When it comes to flowers, I usually stick to impatiens, petunias and begonias. This year, I came across some beautiful African daisies or “gazanias” for one sunny spot in my yard. I bought them because of their interesting designs and colours. After bringing them home, it was intriguing to see how these sun worshipers react to darkness, quickly pulling in their little ray-like petals. I tried to capture the stages using my cell phone camera.
Here is your optional Mini-Prompt. Choose #1, #2 or #3 or a combination.
- Choose a line from Mary Oliver’s poem, “Daisies” to incorporate into your poem. Please mention the source.
- Take inspiration from Mary Oliver’s poem, “Daisies” or a line that speaks to you. Follow your muse.
- Use any of my photos provided above to write about something OTHER than flowers.
Daisies by Mary Oliver
It is possible, I suppose that sometime
we will learn everything
there is to learn: what the world is, for example,
and what it means. I think this as I am crossing
from one field to another, in summer, and the
mockingbird is mocking me, as one who either
knows enough already or knows enough to be
perfectly content not knowing. Song being born
of quest he knows this: he must turn silent
were he suddenly assaulted with answers. Instead
oh hear his wild, caustic, tender warbling ceaselessly
unanswered. At my feet the white-petalled daisies display
the small suns of their center piece, their – if you don’t
mind my saying so – their hearts. Of course
I could be wrong, perhaps their hearts are pale and
narrow and hidden in the roots. What do I know?
But this: it is heaven itself to take what is given,
to see what is plain; what the sun lights up willingly;
for example – I think this
as I reach down, not to pick but merely to touch –
the suitability of the field for the daisies, and the
daisies for the field.
New to dVerse? Here’s how to join in:
- Write a poem on your blog or website.
- Click on Mr. Linky below to add your name and direct URL to your poem.
- Let others know about dVerse Poets Pub by adding a link to us on your blog.
- Read the work of other poets and leave a comment.
- Drop in here to say hello. We are friendly.
- Enjoy the poetry trail!



Welcome sweet poets! Hope your Thursday is treating you well. The pub is open for all of your favourites. I will be slipping out soon for awhile but Lisa and Bjorn are at your service until I return. Looking forward to reading your poetry.
Sadly, my beautiful African daisies disappeared only days after planting them. Bunnies? Squirrel? The wind? What or whoever it was owes me $20.
Good evening all! Thanks to Mish for hosting. I look forward to reading some wonderful poems.
Hi Kim! Hope you’re having a sunny day.
It’s been dry but overcast all day. I hope the sun comes back again soon.
I hope it does too. Sending a bit your way!
Thanks Mish!
I am ready here to support Mish in taking your orders. As for poems I tried my hands at the Magic 9 form of last week.
Thanks so much, Bjorn. I will be seeing a sleep doctor for the results of a sleep apnea test, an appointment that became available (waiting list). I suppose I will find out if I need one of those Darth Vader machines. Eeks….
Hi Mish and Björn!
I had fun writing to your photographs of the gazanias, Mish. How beautiful! Would love some iced tea on this warm and humid spring day. The lilac scent is heavy in the air and its quite cloudy. The tea might just wake me up!
Hi Dora….a tall glass of iced tea coming up! So glad the photos inspired.
😀💖
Hello Mish and All. So sorry to hear about your African daisies getting nibbled, a most rare treat to frisky palates. Good luck at the doc’s!
Hello Lisa. It was the strangest thing to look out and see all the beautiful blooms had disappeared. Thanks for the doctor wishes.
I really did like the mini prompt but had already prepared something else
Iced tea for me too Mish please though its cool enough today to warrant a much warmer toddy.
Thanks, Laura. Feel free to use the photos another time. 🙂 Iced tea for you…and perhaps a warm rhubarb muffin.
Hi Mish! Lovely daisies but I am sorry to know they have perished.
Thanks for hosting.
Hi Punam….at least I have the photos! Thanks for joining in. 🙂
Yes, of course. My pleasure. 🙂
Ok, I’ll be slipping out for a little while, but Lisa and Bjorn have you covered. Be back soon!
Thanks, Bjorn and Lisa. 🙂
I will be here for a little while more… but soon it’s bedtime here.
You’re welcome, Mish. Bjorn, wishing you gentle slumber and most pleasant dreams.
Thanks for Hosting Mish. I am still sick with elevated fever and achy Neuroglia
I will catch up with you all next week.
Welcome, Dwight. Sorry you’re still sick. Would you like a root beer float with chocolate ice cream for the road? See you next week, and please take it easy.
Thank you Lisa. That root beer float sounds wonderful. I will catch up next week!
Here ya go. Cheers!
:>)
I’m back. Thanks so much Lisa and Bjorn! 🙂
❤ My pleasure, Mish.
Hi Mish! Those photos are neat!
Thank you, Jennifer. I was amazed at how sensitive they are to light and darkness. Sadly they were all eaten within a couple days…..by something.
Oh no! I guess the “something” thought they looked good, too. 🙂
Hi Mish and All. I really liked the Mary Oliver poem, and I decided to write a response to it. The day sort of got away from me, so I’ll probably catch up with reading tomorrow.
Hi Merril. That sounds wonderful. She certainly had a way with words. Excited to see your response. 🙂
🙂
Lovely to read Mary Oliver’s poem. I love her poems and read them often. And those lovely flowers, they remind me much of sunflowers. I will see if I can get writing with something today! 🙂
I love her work. Glad you enjoyed the photos as well . Thanks for dropping in. 🙂
Thanks for tending the bar tonight Mish
My pleasure, Paul. 🙂
Nice to see you.
Stopped in for a moment and gotta run, maybe just a Dr. Pepper? I’ll come back and read the goodness later.
That’s great, Kim. I left you a Dr.Pepper to go!
Thank you, so refreshing! Especially at 10, 2 and 4, like the old advertisement used to promote.
Thank you, Mish for hosting, Lovely photos and poems. 🙂
Thanks for joining in, kitty. 🙂
Such a beautiful poem. I’ll have to read more of hears. ❤️
Yes, please do. She was a remarkable, insightful poet. 🙂