Cherry Blossom Diva

I have a very limited engagement,
once a year, perhaps for a week.
My performances inspire artists and poets.
Emperors and peasants stop
to enjoy a moment under my boughs.

So imagine my displeasure
to see I’ve been upstaged
by snow.
Snow!
Clinging on my elegant limbs,
freezing my barely unfurling buds!

I simply cannot work like this.
If you can’t arrange for the proper conditions
for me to truly display the extent of my beauty,
I’ll simply stop performing
and you’ll have to wait until next year.

See to it this doesn’t happen again.


Actual picture of a tree in the Philly burbs on 4/9/16 taken by a friend, Christine Strieb



This poem was inspired by Imaginary Gardens With Real Toads: Transforming With Nature's Words and by the cherry blossom trees who's peak bloom was cut short by an odd "second winter" in the Philladelphia suburb area (boo!)

33 comments:

  1. Ah.. those years when the snow and petals mingle... it's a cruel month indeed... (but there is always a next year)

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    1. LOL, that's what I tell myself. I look forward to this time of year so much, so I was bummed with this year's freakish snow fall.

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  2. Insulting for sure, this late snow. We are expecting some tonight! You've given me the image of snow on cherry blossoms and it is quite beautiful.

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    1. Thanks. Cherry blossoms are one of my favorite things about springs, and yes snow still looks beautiful on its boughs with the flowers peeping through. It's hard to have a picnic under that though!

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  3. Ooh that vehement snow - such a fiery and passionate write :D

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    1. LOL, the diva has very exacting standards.

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  4. Sakura has every right to be a diva about this. Love this poem!

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  5. Surely, this must be what they are saying. Well done.

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  6. I absolutely LOVED this, as I became aware of who was speaking. The peremptory tone is perfect, can feel the displeasure of a blossoming tree being snowed upon.

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    1. LOL, I was at my tea lessons today, bummed because we needed to be indoors when I thought, "You think you're sad - imagine how those poor cherry blossom trees feel!"

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  7. Oh I love this too...A cherry blossom diva deserves her tirade and winter's upstaging.

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    1. She is rather cross the opening act has been hogging the spring stage! LOL, thanks.

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  8. What a great voice! And I'm with the cherry blossoms on this one: I can't work like this, either.

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    1. It's rather frustrating for those of us with spring business to go about! I have flower beds to tend!

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  9. The diva has spoken. Take heed. Love this tirade and sense of queenly importance.

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    1. Absolutely! A cape of snow was not what this diva had in mind!

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  10. Oh, dearest Cherry Blossom Diva, I feel your pain. The (rather lowborn *cough*) daffodils around my village are weeping frozen tears of outrage. I hope the conditions are bettered. For the world might not be able to go on without your beauty.

    Rommy, I love this tree. What an attitude! I always thought that cheery blossoms would be mild-mannered. But I guess all divas will have their say. ;-D

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    1. LOL, I thought cherry blossoms might develop a diva-ish attitude with so many festival held to honor them. Philladelphia's big cherry blossom festival is next week, though we'll probably all be appreciating the lack of snow more.

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  11. I thoroughly enjoyed this! And after all, what's a poor tree to do? It needs help for sure, and is surely worth it.

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    1. Exactly. It isn't her fault the weather is insane. She looks forward to putting on a show and much as people love watching her. :D

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  12. the diva is rightly complaining about this climate change...love this voice...

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    1. Sumana for the win! Yeah, I suppose this is a very lighthearted way to address the topic, but it was on my mind as I wrote it.

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  13. Cruel, cruel month of April! The cherry blossoms have every right to feel upstaged! Fun piece, Rommy!

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    1. Thanks Sharon! This was especially fun to write because I got to vent some of my frustrations with the weather too!

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  14. Oh, this is heartbreaking...I feel for the life that's teased into being too early to be shocked back with cold. Thank you, for writing!

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    1. The bit of warm weather was definitely too much of a tease for the early bloomers in our area.

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  15. Snow, snow, snow! Poor Cherry Blossom tree! Great poem Rommy! Love this!

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  16. The gall of that snow to show up at such a time??!!! Made me giggle.

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