Purple Wildflowers | Teen Ink

Purple Wildflowers MAG

December 28, 2011
By Lisa Schottenfeld BRONZE, Somewhere, Alabama
Lisa Schottenfeld BRONZE, Somewhere, Alabama
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

Every warm summer day she could
Open her eyes as the clock chimed seven
Slip on her flip-flops
Shuffle down the hall and out to the porch
Gently tiptoe down the stairs
And dash to the tiny grassy corner
Where the purple wildflowers grew
Holding her breath
In hope that they had magically blossomed overnight.
And on the magical day they bloomed
She would pluck them carefully and fix
Beautiful bouquets of violet buds
For her mother.
During the day she would
Sketch the world in colored chalk on the pavement and
Watch in amazement as
The gray squirrels cracked their acorns
Climb upon her swing and pump her legs till she flew
High above the clouds like a bird and
Could feel the air growing chilly
As she reached unheard of altitudes.
She marveled at brilliant blue feathers
Left carelessly on the soft grass by their owners and
Enjoyed collecting sparkly quartz
Worth more than diamonds to her eyes.
On rainy days she
Splashed in puddles wearing her
Sunny yellow rainboots,
Laughing at timid earthworms come out to play.
And then she would watch fiery leaves
Fall from their delicate perches
On the branches of towering maples
And reluctantly would return to school.
She turned thirteen that year.
Quickly learned to bow to the Gap entrance instead of the trees
Pondering pictures of anorexic models rather than
The shapes of snowflakes,
Worried about her clothes more than
What pictures the clouds were making
Giggled over handsome celebrities and
Forgot to wish on the first star at night.
And then school was out once again.
She went to bed late and woke at one every day
Gossiped on the telephone and shopped for useless trinkets
Frowned at the sun and turned up the air conditioning,
Scorned her family and Scowled at rainy days.
That was the year she missed
The purple wildflowers
Blooming.


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This article has 6 comments.


on Dec. 31 2011 at 4:55 pm
beautifulspirit PLATINUM, Alpharetta, Georgia
35 articles 0 photos 1398 comments

Favorite Quote:
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
--Eleanor Roosevelt

Oh what a story! How we grow up so fast forgetting the beauty and other things around us. I loved every word~

on Dec. 31 2011 at 9:32 am
ElleNicole BRONZE, St. Louis, Missouri
2 articles 0 photos 107 comments

Favorite Quote:
"My role in society, or any artist's or poet's role, is to try and express what we all feel. Not to tell people how to feel. Not as a preacher, not as a leader, but as a reflection of us all."

Really well done! Would you mind checking out my work? Thanks!

on Dec. 29 2011 at 11:41 pm
otherpoet SILVER, Wayland, Massachusetts
6 articles 9 photos 254 comments

Favorite Quote:
"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." - Audrey Hepburn

so beautiful! It has such amazing imagery. Loved it! Keep writing!

on Dec. 28 2011 at 10:59 pm
unsimplysara BRONZE, Burbank, California
1 article 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." --Psalm 37:4

You've written this so beautifully Lisa! Wow I really loved it :)

HaleyS. GOLD said...
on Dec. 28 2011 at 8:21 pm
HaleyS. GOLD, Byram, Mississippi
19 articles 0 photos 74 comments

Favorite Quote:
If you drown, at least die knowing you were headed for the shore.
-Ray Bradbury

This was so beautiful. It made me want to cry. It's so true, too. It happens to all girls at some point. Great job.

Morning SILVER said...
on Dec. 28 2011 at 3:29 pm
Morning SILVER, Greensboro, North Carolina
9 articles 0 photos 13 comments

Favorite Quote:
"There is no perfect time to write, there is only now." ~Barbara Kingsolver

This is such a pretty poem. There is something lovely and graceful about it. The first part was beautiful and the second poignant. The motif of purple wildflowers was really well done. Great Job!