Wedding Flowers
I gave the florist clear instructions
My wedding bouquet was to include
White roses — I am worthy of you
Blue carnations — yes, no, maybe?
White daisies — innocence
The perfect bouquet
To greet the guests
To adorn the altar
Alas, she got it wrong
Or maybe she was right
Instead of my favorite white daisies —
. . . . .The flowers of the first bouquet
. . . . .my love had ever given me —
My eyes were assaulted
By orange marigolds — despair, grief
Perhaps they were prophetic
Of the despair and grief
Lingering in my soul
Destined to mar many years
Of our otherwise perfect union
Perhaps they were merely
A florist’s mistake
_______________________________________
I missed the Poetics prompt at dVerse Poets Pub on Tuesday dealing with flowers and their meanings. But when I read the list of flowers I was struck by the meanings of two in particular — the daisy and the marigold. It reminded me of my wedding day. Since I missed linking to that prompt, I’m sharing this for Open Link Night today instead.
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Oh, the uncanny belief in its significance can make it horrid if we imagine our future relying on that. And the doubt lingers on. Well-penned.
-HA
Perhaps it wasn’t a mistake? A mystery not to be solved.
I hope it was a florist mistake. Sad .
It all turned out in the end, though, and 31 years later we’re still married.
I’m really glad you could use the prompt. I was surprised marigolds had such a negative meaning, I must admit. I like this poem very much. The last lines make me think that the writer is shaking free of something negative.
Thanks. I hadn’t thought of that, but perhaps it’s true. I’ve been letting go of a lot of negative things in the past few years.
orange marigolds— an odious error
Your poem is a story in motion. Flowers to illustrate the whole story! They say everything happens for a reason. Perhaps your florist did get it right afterall!
in different cultures, marigolds are used to celebrate marriage – and so, of course, it all depends on where one sits …. kind of like in cultures where wearing white is traditional for death and funerals … so in the end, I suppose, apart from perhaps a “clashing of colours” – then maybe, it really is what we make of it?
I really like how you’ve written this poem – and how you’ve managed to really capture the element of surprise at the “unwanted” discovery! And if all ends wells? Then a memory that now somehow, is part of the love story.
Thanks. It took me many years to be “okay” with marigolds even in my yard. But now I love them, though I prefer the red and yellow to the orange variety. 😉
LOL – I can understand, in some ways – people have a love/hate affair with marigolds for some reason, even if not because of something like you’ve poemed. But then, I suppose, this could be said of most plants/flowers anyhow. And well, they are good plants to have around, help keep certain pesky pests away. 🙂
I didn’t realize getting those bouquets right mattered so much until I read this prompt. Hopefully it was just a florist’s mistake.
A poignant and piercing write! Who knew how prophetic a floral arrangement could be?
Those last two lines wrap this up perfectly.
Thanks.
You rocked the prompt, mastering the language of flowers sublimely. It seems that some of the gang did not participate in Kim’s challenge on Tuesday. I really enjoyed the dip into Victorian Romanticism.
I’ve had a hard time participating lately because I haven’t had the time to also read other poems, and I’m not comfortable linking and not reading. But that prompt spoke to me. 🙂
Tee hee. Maybe I was your florist. I would LOVE orange marigolds in my wedding bouquet. 🙂
I very much enjoyed your poem.
It never occurred to me that the florist might simply have been a fan of marigolds. 😉
Your poem is wonderful! I hope the florist made a mistake with our bouquet!
I didn’t know marigolds represented despair and grief. You have a way with words and this writing is deeply heartfelt.
Thank you.
You welcome, Linda. 🙂
I too hope it was a florist’s mistake. Marigolds have so many different meanings depending on the country and culture – they often symbolise passion and creativity.
Passion and creativity also fit our marriage, so I like that. 😉
This is so poignant… I had no idea orange marigolds signify despair and grief..
I didn’t know that before reading Tuesday’s Poetics prompt, either.
I’m surprised to hear marigolds mean despair and grief. They’re great flowers for healing all sorts of inflammations. I too hope it was only a florist’s mistake.
I was surprised to learn of that meaning, too.
I enjoyed your true story of the wrong/right bouquet, Linda!
I love where you took this prompt… I sincerely hope that it was a florist mistake…