Iris

It was the honeyed scent
of its divine blossom
wrapping around my nose
that led me
to make my own.

Up with the handle,
down with the strands
and onto the parchment,
I start with the petals.
The paper emits an aroma
similar to tuberose.
It springs into my nose
and I dip into my favorite colors.

Perfumed lavender
blooms into sour lemon curd,
and spreads across each petal,
horsehair sweeping canvas.
I add spots of apricot,
adding a musky scent
to the overwhelming sweetness.

The stamen, a shy specimen,
is slightly hidden,
but its chestnut antlers
and ivory filaments
play peek-a-boo between the petals.
I let several petals fall
to their natural positions
and marvel at the inflorescence.

A soft, ripe pear green
ebbs down, slightly, to form the stem.
I dip into the ivory once again
to form each layer
encompassing the stalk,
much like an onion.

I end with the the pompous bulb,
colored with the sweetness of cream,
to which the roots
are forever connected.