Submit your work, meet writers and drop the ads. Become a member
Kara Troglin Feb 2013
Brassavola nodosa*: Lady of the Night

Drinking deep the cold water
with her loose, slender petals
that wrap the aspidistra tree,
she waits, just before dusk
to release her moonlit fragrance.

Dark welcomes this ghost-white
orchid that proves love blooms
in nature with a night to drown
the stillness of a leafy bedding.

The wild-eyed child opens her gaze
to this wonder hidden in kudzu vines
of a Brazilian forest that does not sleep
so soundly with its dragonflies.

Only the moon knows she speaks
of fallen petals and longed for rain.
Critiques, pretty please?
Donall Dempsey Feb 2018
WHAT THE MIRROR THINKS

The mirror sees them
arguing, but:

says...nothing.

It, observes them as so
much human furniture

that, most of the time
are nowhere

to be seen.

"Here 'n' gones' " the mirror
thinks of them.

The mirror reflects
a tiny breeze

unseen in itself that
dances with the white

net curtains
stained with sunlight.

The shadows creep
into corners

waiting for
evening.

The mirror shows
an aspidistra

that always dominates
the tiny room.

it even refers to
the tattered Penguin

Orwell

fallen to the floor
still...unread.

The carpet the mirror sees
is genuine

Persian, but:
it has seen better days

faded with sunlight.

There is a small hand mirror
on an antique wash basin

that still holds
the woman's scowl

for a few moments, but:
now. . .doesn't.

Mirror looks at
mirror.

But, again:
says....nothing.

There is - nothing
: to say.

The humans have gone
taken themselves out of

the picture
so to speak.

But, their anger
still hovers in the air.

The curtains
are still

...dancing.

"Hmmmmmm..?"
thinks the mirror

"...Hmmmmmm!"
Donall Dempsey Feb 2016
WHAT THE MIRROR THINKS

The mirror sees them
arguing, but:

says...nothing.

It, observes them as so
much human furniture

that, most of the time
are nowhere

to be seen.

"Here 'n' gones' " the mirror
thinks of them.

The mirror reflects
a tiny breeze

unseen in itself that
dances with the white

net curtains
stained with sunlight.

The shadows creep
into corners

waiting for
evening.

The mirror shows
an aspidistra

that always dominates
the tiny room.

it even refers to
the tattered Penguin

Orwell

fallen to the floor
still...unread.

The carpet the mirror sees
is genuine

Persian, but:
it has seen better days

faded with sunlight.

There is a small hand mirror
on an antique wash basin

that still holds
the woman's scowl

for a few moments, but:
now. . .doesn't.

Mirror looks at
mirror.

But, again:
says....nothing.

There is - nothing
: to say.

The humans have gone
taken themselves out of

the picture
so to speak.

But, their anger
still hovers in the air.

The curtains
are still

...dancing.

"Hmmmmmm..?"
thinks the mirror

"...Hmmmmmm!"
Donall Dempsey Feb 2019
WHAT THE MIRROR THINKS

The mirror sees them
arguing, but:

says...nothing.

It, observes them as so
much human furniture

that, most of the time
are nowhere

to be seen.

"Here 'n' gones' " the mirror
thinks of them.

The mirror reflects
a tiny breeze

unseen in itself that
dances with the white

net curtains
stained with sunlight.

The shadows creep
into corners

waiting for
evening.

The mirror shows
an aspidistra

that always dominates
the tiny room.

it even refers to
the tattered Penguin

Orwell

fallen to the floor
still...unread.

The carpet the mirror sees
is genuine

Persian, but:
it has seen better days

faded with sunlight.

There is a small hand mirror
on an antique wash basin

that still holds
the woman's scowl

for a few moments, but:
now. . .doesn't.

Mirror looks at
mirror.

But, again:
says....nothing.

There is - nothing
: to say.

The humans have gone
taken themselves out of

the picture
so to speak.

But, their anger
still hovers in the air.

The curtains
are still

...dancing.

"Hmmmmmm..?"
thinks the mirror

"...Hmmmmmm!"
Donall Dempsey Feb 2020
WHAT THE MIRROR THINKS

The mirror sees them
arguing, but:

says...nothing.

It, observes them as so
much human furniture

that, most of the time
are nowhere

to be seen.

"Here 'n' gones' " the mirror
thinks of them.

The mirror reflects
a tiny breeze

unseen in itself that
dances with the white

net curtains
stained with sunlight.

The shadows creep
into corners

waiting for
evening.

The mirror shows
an aspidistra

that always dominates
the tiny room.

it even refers to
the tattered Penguin

Orwell

fallen to the floor
still...unread.

The carpet the mirror sees
is genuine

Persian, but:
it has seen better days

faded with sunlight.

There is a small hand mirror
on an antique wash basin

that still holds
the woman's scowl

for a few moments, but:
now. . .doesn't.

Mirror looks at
mirror.

But, again:
says....nothing.

There is - nothing
: to say.

The humans have gone
taken themselves out of

the picture
so to speak.

But, their anger
still hovers in the air.

The curtains
are still

...dancing.

"Hmmmmmm..?"
thinks the mirror

"...Hmmmmmm!"
first read about *** in orwell’s
keep the aspidistra flying
it didn’t sound any good     ..

— The End —