Dandelions

(Translations in the author's note)

   You gave me dandelions,

   and I

   vased them in my yellow typewriter.

   They kept company to the 

   drizzling sunshine,

   and the talkative alphabets.

   In the dense summer air, 

   I bathed my soul, 

   and dreamt of timemachine wheels,

   that revolved with blurred spokes.

          

                         They call you the lovelorn boy,

                                poisoned by Summer's sweet foolery.

                                     They call me the dandelion girl,

                                          fooled by Summer's sweet poison...

   You said love is a 

   full blown rainshower

   that conjures the wand'ring stars,

   and makes them stand.

   You said it was in the

   Summer's hot breath

   that melts away the standing frosts

   of long Winter...

   You spoke of lies and truths,

   of untruths and half-truths.

   And I was certain,

   I was most certain of rebirths

   and future encounters.

          Like the final act of magic,

              we were bound to unite again.

   ~Twin fortune gazers~

   We looked up 

   at the teacup of stars,

       and saw shapes forming. 

                         All the while, the Wind had danced amongst the dandelions

                                  like a belladonna, enthralled.

   I always could make out Orion,

   but you found even

   Vega, Deneb, and Altair.

        Warmed by the fire

          of the atmosphere,

            we sat up all night,

              to watch them fade.

 

                        All the while, the Rain had stirred the grass blades

                                 to its haunting symphony.

   If I could have trusted the

   truth of sleep,

   and of dreams, and stars-

   typing a printwork of destiny

   with sluggish typewriter notes,

   I could have read our cards.

   You called me  ياقمر

   ~~my moon~~

   Your voice raining, 

   like sunflakes, and snowshine, melting

   like the skin of peach kept in

   rosewater for too long, dissolving

   into sweet nothingness...

   Thrice adream,

   through fantasy lands,

   we sailed

   on our magic carpet

   across the bridge of the Milky Way.

   Our hearts dancing in the wind,

   like the yellow butterflies

      ~como las mariposas amarillas~

   that fly through moon-kissed fields...                                     

                        You gave me dandelions,

                    and I

           vased them in my heart...

   ~Pour tous les saisons à s'épanouir~

Author's Note

This is one of my favourite poems, the one I treasure the most...it has taken me nearly two years to shape it and edit it to bring out this final version

Notes:
1. Vased- I created this verb form of the noun "vase", so the meaning is literal, not figurative.

2. The 3 stars-Vega, Deneb, and Altair form the Summer Triangle. The 3 are the brightest stars in the three constellations of Aquila, Cygnus, and Lyra, respectively.
The general tale is a love story between Zhinü (織女; the weaver girl, symbolizing the star Vega) and Niulang (牛郎; the cowherd, symbolizing the star Altair). Their love was not allowed, thus they were banished to opposite sides of the Silver River (symbolizing the Milky Way Galaxy). Once a year, on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, a flock of magpies would form a bridge over the star, Deneb, to reunite the lovers for one day.

3. The translation for ياقمر is "oh moon" or "oh precious" in arabic(in the egyptian dialect).
It is written as "ya amar", pronounced as "ya kamar"

4. I made up the words "sunflakes" and "snowshine" from "sunshine" and "snowflakes"...I think they sit nicely on the tongue and give the poem a playful feel...
From "sunflakes", I get the imagery of falling gilded flakes of sunlight in my mind...and from "snowshine", I wanted to highlight the glint of the snow as it falls...

5. Como las mariposas amarillas -translates to "like the yellow butterflies"

6. Pour tous les saisons à s'épanouir- translates to "for all seasons to bloom"

I have always wanted to experiment with multiple languages in a single poem...if you have any suggestions, I would be honoured to receive them...I think this poem can go through another edit, and so all suggestions are welcome!

Reviews

[Jennie Baron]

One of the tests of a poem for me is how it sounds when read aloud. This one is so beautiful it lends itself to a public reading if you haven't done that. I love the dreamy, wistful feeling, and the diction is wonderfully expressive. Well done and a privilege to read.

[Tom]

What a diverse and exhilarating journey you take the reader on, rich in nature's colourful tapestry and beyond!

Celestial in love, harmony and cultural enigma, kudos!

[Moonie]

Nature has always been my muse...I like all its aspects, and my impressions of it tint my poetry often...
Thank you for the beautiful review! :)) much appreciated!

[Tom]

Yes indeed, I have a penchant for dandelions too...
http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/Tomthumb3/1218045/

[Cory Barrett]

This is incredible.
I don't read poems 7 times over, but i did this.
And each time something new.
To always be new is brilliant!
Thank you for this.

[Moonie]

Oh my! That does mean a lot to me..to be reread 7 times...wow..thanks for the encouraging words! read moreOh my! That does mean a lot to me..to be reread 7 times...wow..thanks for the encouraging words!
I am very happy that you enjoyed this poen! :)))

[wordman]

it is certainly a beautiful write,vivid colors and memories

[Moonie]

Thank you so much, wordman! :))

[Coyote Poetry]

I loved this poem. A amazing story and journey in the poetry. A epic journey into wonderful words and thoughts. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Moonie]

I love your reviews, dear Coyote!
I am delighted that you liked it! :)

[Coyote Poetry]

I did enjoy and you are welcome.

[WoodenChair]

(applauds) This is absolutely amazing!!! :D The flow of this poem is breathtaking. I love the use of more than one language to REALLY bring out this poem's uniqueness. :) Bravo, madame, bravo!!!

[Moonie]

Thank you!! :))

[WoodenChair]

was just kidding

[Raven Moonchild]

(applauds) This is absolutely amazing!!! :D The flow of this poem is breathtaking. I love the use of more than one language to REALLY bring out this poem's uniqueness. :) Bravo, madame, bravo!!!

[Moonie]

Thank you very much for the lovely words! :)

[Lydia Shutter]

French words spice up your already wonderfully romantic love poem. The imagery is velvety soft and sweet. The emotions are tender. Love puts words into our hearts and typewriters...absolutely. Lovely. Lydi**

[Moonie]

Thanks for being so kind, ma'am! :))
I was very worried about the french to be honest, and changed that last line multiple times. I am very pleased that it came out okay!
Thank you once again! ♥

[For Play]

Very nice metaphor-laden dream, of saved morsels and reserved beauty that touches upon the pungent soil of a wild heart.

[Moonie]

Thank you for those beautiful words! ♥

[writ rajat]

Talkative alphabet a nice discovery I would like to take these two word for my next poem if you dont mind. Although I found this poem a big suspension to the new world thanks for taking two years for writing this stupendous piece also welcome back

[Moonie]

Thanks a lot, Rajat! I love that phrase too by the way! :)

[An owl on the moon]

I once thought of dandelions simply as weeds until a friend of my mother spoke of surviving on dandelion salad during the war, then they became as life to me. And your words, your confessions of this life, this gift, bring vivid life and light to each fragrant petal and the magic their transformation brings when they drift on the winds. This is magnificent, the letters, and lines, and languages creating a movement as the stars do traversing the night skies. Every read brings fresh insights into your soul's poetry.

[Moonie]

Thank you for such a beautiful and insightful review!
I like that you shared your story about dandelions...
It's true, they are useful in their own way...
I used to do these exercises in poetry books when I was younger, and once I came across one that asked for a poem on a plant or animal that is often deemed as being unpretty...I wrote one on the ostrich, and one on dandelions. Though they seem far too childish right now, to me, but I had their thought in my mind when I was writing this poem. I tried hard to make the beauty of dandelions come out through it.

[An owl on the moon]

And you did. You brought their beauty to life in an even deeper way. And I love languages, so your infusion of vibrant words planted only more seeds, and I can see them even now drifting on the winds, dear poet.