Peony in Spring are shiny reaches from dank humus.
Peony in Summer are two-tone fronds building buds.
Summer peony sing frilly perfume songs.
Autumn peony post-confetti subdue to yellow glow.
Peony in Autumn accent crimson maple and apples.
Peony in Winter are hapless sleeping stalks.
The predictability of a peony’s life cycle
reveals itself over many seasons. There
is no rush to know it, only to watch it unfold
each day as it quietly communes with its place
in the world and to marvel at it in its simple beauty.
The peony is in no hurry; why should you be?
top image by Leafeo
2nd image from gecko & fly
These two proverbs go hand in hand to me.
Merril is today’s host for dVerse’ Poetics. Merril says:
For this prompt, choose a proverb or a pair of proverbs. Use them as you wish—as an epigraph or within the poem.
Tao Talk 
Be like the peony! This was lovely, Lisa.
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Thank you, Dale.
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I adore peonies. My senior citizen neighbors had purple peonies all along their side of the common back yard fence for years. Then he died and she left and the current occupant paved with gravel and lets weeds and trash trees grow where the lovely peonies were. Every year a few still bloom, but not like before. It always makes me sad. I loved them.
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I feel bad for the beautiful purple peonies. I wish you could save the ones that are left. The current occupant probably would say good riddance.
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When I was a child, every yard had peonies, now they are seldom seen. One has to wonder why they fell from grace., I feel your sadness.
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I’m not sure why they did either, Beverly. My grandma had some in her yard, and after we bought her place, then ended up moving, the peonies came with us. I ended up giving some to my mom and they thrived for years. They fizzled in the shady yard of my new house and my mom moved out of her home. The plants didn’t make it 😦
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I absolutely love, love this especially; “Summer peony sing frilly perfume songs.” Gorgeous write! 💝💝
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Thanks, Sanaa, and glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Let’s hope the wind doesn’t blow
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You must be thinking of the post-confetti stage 😉
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There is no rush to know it ~~~~~ those words could the most beautiful I’ve read today. AND omg, I posted that video thinking I was sending it to a dear friend in Australia … obviously that was not the case. LOL
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I loved the video, Helen, and am glad you made the “mistake” which wasn’t a mistake in my book. Very happy you enjoyed the poem.
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Nature is calm and patient. We should be too
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Exactly, Sadje. Nature sets an example for us. We need to get back to it.
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Indeed.
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Nature always has a good reminder for us to slow down.
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Exactly, Silver Gardenia.
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If only we could be more more like peonies. Beautifully written, Li
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Shweta, I agree. It take faith and will, I think.
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Love this…to sit back and watch…no rush…
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Glad you like it, Punam 🙂
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love all the transitions of peony in the seasons – but especially
“Peony in Winter are hapless sleeping stalks.”
A beautiful measured tone poem
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Laura, thank you for reading, commenting, and the feedback.
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I am in love with peonies this year ❤
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There’s a lot to love about them, thanks for reading, Caramel ❤
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What a beautiful and wise unfolding.(K)
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Thank you, Kerfe.
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Beautifully done Lisa. I love the proverbs. I love peonies, but have not had much success with them. I must be doing something wrong, they just won’t grow for me! :<(
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Thank you, Dwight. I don’t know a lot about peonies, but I do know that they must have full sun all day long.
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I bought bulbs two years in a row and none came up!
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Hmmmmm that leads me to believe either a furred critter underground at the roots or your ground is too moist and it rotted them. Do you have any high ground in full sun?
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Yes, that is where I planted it. It even had a growth ear on it. Perhaps it dried up??
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I don’t think it would dry up but critters might have eaten it or it got a fungus? I don’t know how hot and humid it gets there but I don’t think peonies are that great in a lot of humidity — or maybe some varieties but not others. If you want to grow them, I would research which ones are best in your growing zone and try those. Also, using large suet cages to plant them in might prevent underground nibblers from getting to them.
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Good idea. with I dug down in the flower bed I did not find the root I planted.
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num num for someone
another root done gone —
there’s always next year…
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Another one bites the dust…. Yes I might try again!
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What beautiful words Lisa. I think peonies are lovely, but I have never tried to grow them. And I’m not sure they would do well here in A. I think they like cooler weather, right?
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Linda, I know less than nothing about growing things in the desert. I did a google search and see that it is possible to grow some varieties, but only going by what the websites say. If you are in zone 8 or 9, here is one article:
https://www.treepeony.com/blogs/peonies/growing-peonies-in-usda-zones-8-and-9
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Thank you!
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You’re welcome. With your green thumb I bet you could make a home for a peony in your garden ❤
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And I am in zone 9. 😊
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I noticed they mentioned TX and CA but not AZ as being those zones so wasn’t sure. Am thinking if you put it in dappled sun with thick moist mulch, and if it’s the right variety (tree peony is one mentioned) it might have a chance…
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Yes, perhaps so.
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WOW, what a turnout; excellent piece, and it rocks the prompt. I don’t know if we have peonies here in Pac NW. if so, no one has pointed them out to me. Your poetic peonies kick butt.
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Glenn, if you notice a flower that is more beautiful than a flower has a right to be, that’ll be a peony.
Ruffled fireworks
on a stick, bursting ginger —
eyes and noses sigh.
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your piece left a smile in my face. if the peonies can read it will make them blush. ❤
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Awww I love your comment, Rosemarie. I wish they could read it.
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indeed. ❤
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This is beautiful, Lisa. It left me feeling serene. There’s something about just sitting in a garden and enjoying it–with peonies, even better. We did that a lot with my mom in her final years–took her to sit in the garden of the building next door.
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Merril, thank you. Flowers give so much but ask nothing except maybe the occasional sip of water. My mom has settled into her living situation and was able to plant in the yard. She was surprised when the hollyhock seeds she planted last fall and forgot about came up and are blooming this year. I’m glad sitting in the garden brought peace to your mom in her final years ❤
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Thank you, and you’re welcome, Lisa!
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Beautiful Lisa! Love them!
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Thank you, Cindy! Another comment I just found in my spam folder. Glad you enjoyed the proverbs.
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You’re so welcome Lisa.. oh but of course.. hahaha 🤣🤣🤣
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🙂
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Old one here Li but loved it! ❤
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I wrote that 😉 It’s not bad. Thanks, Carol Anne ❤
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