Lavender–“When All Else Fails” (Mag 105)
Here’s my offering for Tess Kincaid’s Mag 105.
(Tess posts a wonderful weekly photographic prompt. The original photo this week, and basis of my picture above, was by Epic Mahoney.)
I hate to double (or triple) up but, due to onslaught of demands (beside poeticizing), am also linking this to Imaginary Garden With Real Toads and dVerse Poets Pub Open Link Night.
When All Else Fails
And then there are those times
when one resorts
to lavender–
the scent in a drawer (tempered by cedar),
and folded inside, a kerchief with initials
cross-stitched in bottle blue–
when all has gone wrong, when
there is no
last minute saving grace.
Even honey
can block a throat, lines cut, engine not
turning over, the days of horseback
gallop like the wind
no more.
Still, one pedals/pushes/pulls
through the pale of night as
across a sea or desert, holding,
in the chest of the mind, that drawer, that
handkerchief, the ghost
of lavender worn at wrists
that worked their way
through all of this before
(or something similar), the
lettered threads, cornered by
sieve edge of persistent lace,
signing the possible.
(As always, all rights reserved. And as always, check out my comic novel, NOSE DIVE, book of poetry, GOING ON SOMEWHERE, or children’s counting book 1 MISSISSIPPI.)
Explore posts in the same categories: iPad art, poetry, UncategorizedTags: handkerchief poem, Karin Gustafson poetry, Magpie Tales, manicddaily, Poem about lavender, When All else Fails
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ManicDDaily 
February 19, 2012 at 6:52 pm
smiles…the lavender handkerchief in a drawer makes me think of a mother and the comfort they might bring…or of a lover, a whole other kind of comfort but…i like the chester drawers of the mind as well…and it keeps us going….
February 19, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Thanks, Brian. I like chest of drawers in mind too! K.
February 19, 2012 at 9:08 pm
This definitely a powerful write and had me going back looking at it several times. A very richly textured poem whose oppennesd tomonterpretation I reall like a lot. The ending kind of blew away. Thanks.
February 19, 2012 at 10:35 pm
Thanks so much, Charles. K.
February 19, 2012 at 9:56 pm
The persistence of lace is a comforting idea, and I can believe in the renewal of lavender. Lovely poem of how we find significance in the private drawers where we set it aside to be safe for that time when we need it. Or whatever–may have completely missed the boat her, but that’s what I was getting. Made me feel better, just reading it.
February 19, 2012 at 10:33 pm
Thanks so much, Joy. I don’t think you ever miss a boat! K.
February 19, 2012 at 11:03 pm
Ah – is there anything as comforting as lavender? I don’t think so … and how wonderful to combine that scent with the notion of a monogrammed handkerchief … very nice. I like what you did to the photo as well …
February 20, 2012 at 7:09 am
Thanks–it got pinker than I intended, but once I’ve uploaded, it becomes a bit laborious to fix. K.
February 20, 2012 at 5:59 am
A lavender in a drawer, an aromatic hankie! It brings home that nostalgic feeling all over again!
Hank
February 20, 2012 at 7:08 am
Thanks.
February 20, 2012 at 6:02 am
Inspired and inspirational.
February 20, 2012 at 7:08 am
Thanks, David.
February 20, 2012 at 8:24 am
This is exceptional…
February 20, 2012 at 8:52 am
Thanks so much. K.
February 20, 2012 at 11:57 pm
Richly evocative and tender, hopeful but hurting. Sigh. I LOVE what you have captured here, and I love the way you quietly yet deftly re-interpreted the photo. I usually try to pick a favourite line, but honestly, the whole poem sang out to me here, and it’s a melody I want to hear again… 🙂
February 21, 2012 at 3:07 pm
Lavender, indeed…complete loveliness…
February 21, 2012 at 3:18 pm
Thanks, Tess.
February 21, 2012 at 3:29 pm
you’re right, that whole picture smells like lavender, great connection.
meditation station
February 21, 2012 at 3:45 pm
Something very soft and soothing about this. Very nice, K!
February 21, 2012 at 3:58 pm
this is a poem i can smell…and i love poems i can smell..there’s much comfort in this..and while pedaling through the pale of night still holding on to it..
February 21, 2012 at 4:03 pm
I love the smell of lavender… your words bring the smell to my memory. Lovely.
My poet’s pub poem: A Potty Plaque for Giving Back.
February 21, 2012 at 7:27 pm
Lavender was used so much in older days. I miss the Lavender fields in England. The vibrant colours were something else but, the smell was so wonderful and, I used to keep a couple of (Still wrapped) bars of lavender soap in my dresser drawers because as you pull clothes out, they smell so fresh of it.
A very lovely write.
February 21, 2012 at 8:06 pm
I loved everything about this poem. It really drew me in, made me remember my grandma’s day, with the blue lettered hankies…….sigh. Just lovely.
February 21, 2012 at 8:52 pm
Gorgeous poem– so descriptive and poignant and true to itself– lovely. I especially love these lines:
Still, one pedals/pushes/pulls
through the pale of night as
across a sea or desert, holding,
in the chest of the mind, that drawer, that
handkerchief, the ghost
of lavender worn at wrists..
Very poignant! mine is not on wordpress but up per usual at http://parolavivace.blogspot.com– there is a longer poem after that I don’t anticipate anyone will want to read. All best to you– xxxj
February 22, 2012 at 8:09 am
Lavender is my favourite scent! The lines about the drawer remind me of my childhood, lining them with lavender scented sheets. 🙂
February 22, 2012 at 8:44 pm
I enjoyed the details in your poem like the kerchief and drawer…butt the last verse is my favorite ~
Thanks for sharing this at RT and D’verse ~
February 22, 2012 at 9:41 pm
I want to write you handkerchief tales but I’ll take your metaphor and tuck it in my mother’s cedar heart that she got for an engagement present. This is as carefully stitched as hand made lace on fine linen. Lovely.
February 22, 2012 at 10:35 pm
Thanks so much, Gay. Such a lovely comment!
February 23, 2012 at 3:49 pm
For sure ~ one of my favorites this week!
February 23, 2012 at 3:55 pm
Thanks so much, Helen.