Elephant Flower
A herd of magic Elephants live upon the bog;
The stiff and silent sentinels stalk the rising fog;
Enveloped in it’s soft, damp shroud hides an awesome sight:
With ponderous, plodding ecstasy leviathans take flight.
A Ramshorn blows its eerie call, the meadow comes alive;
Soft breezes tune the orchestra to play a mountain jive;
From grandstand seats in rocky clefts joyous flowers sing;
Chiming Bells intone the chorus, gentle Harebells ring
Columbine
Marigold is scattered where the Fairy Slipper treads,
Alp Lilies join blue Columbine and bow their noble heads;
Floral royalty processes, Golden Banners waving,
King’s Crown shines with diamond dew all Pearly Everlasting.
Paintbrush deftly daubs the scene in hues of scarlet splendor
On a lush and verdant canvas, glowing vibrant color;
While stately Monkshood, purple robed, offers invocation,
The music of the babbling brook resounds with exultation
Indian Paintbrush
Brilliant lights of heaven shine with thunderous ovation,
The Monkey Flower, freed at last squeals a salutation,
Swings his yellow cape aside, and does a somersault
To Jacob’s Ladder rising high, in one tremendous vault.
The Grand Finale is at hand, Wood Nymphs prance about,
Wild Roses swing their ample hips, Wall Flowers laugh and shout,
Larkspurs soar on sylvan wings circling in the sky,
Shooting Stars leave glory tracers, Aster starbursts fly
Shooting Stars
Sky Pilot dives in golden motes of sunshine peeking through,
The hazy damp disseminates, the meadow’s born anew;
It shimmers in the morning light; beauty bathes the spot;
With one more rippling, breezy wave it sighs, “Forget Me Not.”
by Mardi Carter
(see photos of more of the flowers named in the poem in the Mountain Magic Flower Photos gallery)
