Don Iannone: "Losing Myself Inside a Japanese Wood Poppy"

Stepping inside a Japanese wood poppy
I took leave of myself
As some mad man might veer off the highway to work
Only to find himself fishing
Along the banks of an idyllic stream

Not often enough we surrender ourselves
To that something larger
Contained in even the smallest thing
Like a tiny blade of grass
Or the petal of a spring daffodil

Why quibble over a name, or anything
Standing between you and beauty
‘Tis better to be naked of all words
Even poetry
Than miss a flower’s healing kiss



"Losing Myself Inside a Japanese Wood Poppy" by Don Iannone. Posted by Don Iannone on Poetic Alchemist on March 1, 2009.

Photography credit: © Thomas Whelan (originally color).