U3A Writing: Hope
Lorraine Dodd's poem is a beautiful distillation of that most desirable of all things - hope.
Orange nasturtiums growing among purple lavender,
Grey woodchip mulch; barren by the water meter.
Fragile, yet strong on the vine, the bright orange
Pushes its way forward, imperceptibly, positively.
Her car had been put aside,
two wheels straddling the garden bed
crushing some of the plants; abandoned.
We waited, we hoped; prayed:
Each day searching for a sign,
wanting all to be well again,
to see the young girl wave,
ponytail swinging; eager.
I water our shared flowerbed, ever conscious,
always concerned.
See the father’s furrowed brow,
the mother sweeping paths frantically; then silence.
Distraught grandparents come, and stay for comfort.
I tend the fading freesias, the faithful grevillia,
the lavender and the nasturtiums.
But look, those amazing orange flowers
are blooming again,
strong stems pushing through under car tyres,
nature’s spirited progeny, smiling.
Listen - she has opened her eyes,
smiled and asked for food.
Our hopes realized, fulfilled.
How vibrant the nasturtiums
twining through purple lavender.
