O at the Edges

Musings on poetry, language, perception, numbers, food, and anything else that slips through the cracks.

On The Burden of Flowering

Posted on June 11, 2019 by robert okaji

On the Burden of Flowering

Even the cactus wren
surrenders itself
to the task,

though it rarely listens
to my voice. How do clouds
blossom day to day

and leave so little
behind? The bookless shelf
begs to be filled, but instead

I watch the morning age
as the sun arcs higher.
Yesterday you said

the mint marigold
was dying. Today it
stands tall. Yellowing.

“On the Burden of Flowering” first appeared in Panoply in August 2016, and is included in my chapbook, From Every Moment a Second.

20 thoughts on “On The Burden of Flowering”

ksbeth on June 10, 2019 at 7:03 am said:

So beautiful

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- robert okaji on June 10, 2019 at 7:04 am said:
  
  Thanks very much, Beth!
  
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merrildsmith on June 10, 2019 at 7:14 am said:

How indeed? Beautiful, Robert.

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- robert okaji on June 10, 2019 at 2:53 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Merril!
  
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candidkay on June 10, 2019 at 11:56 am said:

And now, as an avowed bookworm, I wanted to know what you filled with bookless shelf with:). Of course.

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- robert okaji on June 10, 2019 at 2:55 pm said:
  
  In my world, bookless shelves seldom remain bookless. Piles of books appear in my presence! Or so it seems…
  
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  - candidkay on June 10, 2019 at 6:56 pm said:
    
    We are simpatico that way, my friend.
    
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    - robert okaji on June 11, 2019 at 2:24 pm said:
      
      🙂
      
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onecarriage on June 10, 2019 at 1:02 pm said:

Elegant and refined as ever. Bookless shelves are ravenous indeed.

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- robert okaji on June 10, 2019 at 2:55 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Craig. They are indeed ravenous!
  
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pen2me on June 11, 2019 at 4:13 am said:

coollllll ! ☺☻

please do Follow my blog

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- robert okaji on June 11, 2019 at 2:30 pm said:
  
  I’ll be sure to visit.
  
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  - pen2me on June 14, 2019 at 11:13 pm said:
    
    😀👍💙
    
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bingingonabudget on June 11, 2019 at 5:39 am said:

Very beautiful writing, thanks for posting 🙂

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- robert okaji on June 11, 2019 at 2:24 pm said:
  
  Thank you very much!
  
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pen2me on June 11, 2019 at 6:12 am said:

Cool one 😊

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- robert okaji on June 11, 2019 at 2:29 pm said:
  
  Thank you.
  
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  - pen2me on June 14, 2019 at 11:13 pm said:
    
    💙👍😀
    
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A-Jay on June 11, 2019 at 6:25 am said:

Awesome, indeed. Besides, who will answer the question about the clouds, Nature?

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- robert okaji on June 11, 2019 at 2:25 pm said:
  
  Thanks, A-Jay. Who indeed?
  
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“On the Burden of Flowering” first appeared in Panoply in August 2016, and is included in my chapbook, From Every Moment a Second.

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20 thoughts on “On The Burden of Flowering”

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