
your seeds mostly released
the few that remained
fascinated me
Torn, I was, between wanting
to pluck each one
crack them open
and swallow them whole
or leave each shell
in its protective bed
perfectly secure
I found you
fallen from your
tall sturdy stem
no sign of what
once held you up
face toward the sun
Just the round center of you
mostly buried
under a weathered brown bag
Just the round carcass of you
between two trash bins
swarming with flies
in the sweltering sun
Scoop you up like an abandoned babe
I did
I had grand plans
for my perfectly structured
sunflower
friend
Alley now behind me
just steps away
from my elementary classroom door
Much larger than
my face
I proudly
held up hers
for show-and-tell
I got at least one “oooh”
but not an “awe”
no one leaned in
when I explained
the symmetrical detail
of her jagged skin
no lives were changed
on that classroom rug
except mine
it seemed
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Structure
exists everywhere
in the detail of a sunflower shell
in every living organism on planet earth
in the orbit of planets and the life span of stars
in streets and in monitored space above
in my office book shelves
in this poem
Except maybe
Love
the kind that shows up
when you’re not looking
that sees the beauty
when all the golden has
fallen away
the kind that is protected
like a lost babe
in the arms
of another
that smolder
with the
beauty of it
and
hold it up
like
the sun

Thank you for visiting and listening! 🌻 Be well. 💗 Michele
Photo 1: Patuss89 Photo 2: Jurij Krupiak
© 2022 Michele Lee Sefton
I came here for your soothing recitation
I’m very satisfied and mesmerized.
Beautiful poem 🌻
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Very kind of you. Thank you, Devang. 🌻
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Best wishes to you ma’am!
Sending you some positive vibes 😃
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And to you! 🙏🏻
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Lovely poetry & recitation! You’re a precious soul, Michele ~ beautiful on the outside and also inside, where it matters most. 😇 Enjoy your weekend, my friend. 🌞
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Thank you, Phil. I am not an angel, but I appreciate your thoughtful words. 🙏🏻I will give it a go. You too! 🌄🌻
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Will do, thanks Michele 🙏🏻
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It’s ashame they could not share your sense of wonder AND awe.
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I felt the same! That theme continued when I became a teacher. What do you mean you don’t love to read and write? 😲😆 Others may not share our enthusiasm for things, but we should not let that diminish ours. Thank you, Pat.
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Amen, Michele!
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🙏🏻💖
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Nice! I listened this this wonderful poem while I was making some lentil soup with real lentils, mushrooms and escarole! It just seemed to fit in.
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I love learning about your poetry listening scene. Thank you very much! 😊 Sounds lovely and delicious!
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Love the imagery and how you always capture wonder–and try to share it. Always. Love to you, my friend!
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Much gratitude and love to you author Sandra. 💗 Thank you.
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Guuurrrrlllll, I will never look at a sunflower the same again. 🌻🌻🌻 So often many of us can look at the same thing, see the same details, watch the same aura, and not pick up on the very essence of what that object or person conveys. I love your deep appreciation for that which is often overlooked Michele my Belle. 🤗💖🤩 Your grace and appreciation of life flows throughout your amazing poem. So heartwarming girlfriend. Now, let’s dance the day away!!! 💃🏻🎶👯♀️🎵💃🏽
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I am happy to expand the landscape of your sunflower thoughts. 🌻💭😊 Thank you, Kymbelina, for noticing my noticing and for the gorgeous description of my poem and the inspiration behind it. 💖 🙏🏻 You truly are the light that Dwight just wrote about in another comment. 🌟 Yes, lets!! 💃🏽🎶💞🎶💃🏻
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Oh my Belle whose name is Michele, You always manage to bring a huge grin to my face. 😁😁😁 You are so good with your encouraging words girlfriend. Thank you my Dancing Queen!!! 💃🏼🎼👣🎶💃🏽
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🥰
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Thank you, Michele, for sharing this wonderful piece of writing! 🙏
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You are welcome, Art. Friday afternoon musings. 🌻💗Thank you for reading and commenting!
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Your writing has a wonderful flow to it that I can sense as I read. Great work!
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Writing is a gift for all of us. Poetry in particular offers a chance to get lost in the creative zone… letting the emotions and memories bubble up and letting the words flow. I greatly appreciate your comment.
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I agree, Michele. Through poetry we may express ourselves in ways that are otherwise unavailable! I greatly appreciate your kind and helpful comments, too!
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Beautiful.
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Nice of you to say. 😊 Thank you, Timothy.
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So fascinating Audio poem and Sunflowers story written so beautifully 🌷🙏👍🏻😊
Sunflowers are golden colours and it blooms seeing beauty of the sun , and grace
life also this flowers 👏👌it’s amazing seeds so much beneficial for us , because
Of that you’re praising them in your poem lines , so inspiring and grace wishes dear
Friend 🌷🙏♥️😊
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Writing that poem did take me on a fascinating journey. Lines that lead to love. 💖 Your summary of my poem and descriptions of sunflowers are both sweet and thoughtful. Thank you very much, Thattamma. Wishing you a beautiful weekend lovely lady. 💗💐
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So lovely reply message dear 🥰thank you so much and most welcome 🙏 ♥️
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Pretty poem Michele! 💖
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Thanks a million, VG! 💗
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Breathtaking, Michele. Thank you for reminding us to see the wonder and possibility of the simple beauty all around us. And this: “Except maybe
Love
the kind that shows up
when you’re not looking
that sees the beauty
when all the golden has
fallen away…” Heart-stirring. 💜
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To read that my poem may be a reminder to see the wonder and possibility made my day, Natalie. Thank you for your lovely visit here! Those lines take my breath away too. 😁💗 Cheers to beautiful things that take our breath away. 🥂
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Gorgeously written and you read it so well!!
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I am honored by your generous comment. Thank you, Steven. 🙏🏻
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A fantastic poem, and audio performance, Michele. I adore how you connect the multifaceted structure of the universe to the unstructuredness of love. Such a gorgeous piece. Happy Saturday! 💖🌳🌻
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Thanks so much poetry reader, Jeff. 😊 This poem took me on a delightful thoughtful journey, from an alley to the stars, then beyond where a love that can’t be defined, lives. Oh, how I adore the creative process of writing poetry. 🥰 Much to discover when we allow the thoughts and words to flow. Have a splendid Sunday! 🌞🌳💖
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You’re most welcome, Michele. 😁Always. Ah, yes, the creative process is such a lovely experience, even when it’s hard sometimes, I find it all part of the same process. 🥰 Yes, the flow, exactly. Thank you! 🌳🌻💖
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This poem reeled me in. The sunflower past her prime but still so fascinating in her structure. Womderful writing Michele and your voice gives the words even greater dimension.
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I love the fishing analogy and your description of the past-her-prime but still beautiful sunflower. 💗 This one felt like a must read with many nuances I wanted to emphasize. Thank you very much, Anne, for listening and appreciating. 😊
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So beautiful Michele 🌻 your words lifted my heart! ❤️
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A beautiful message to read at the start of my day. Thank you, Ingrid. 💗
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OH MY GOD!!!!! MICHELE!!! This is beyond brilliant and beautiful! I love it…this entire post….more than I can say! Thank You for starting my Saturday with a HUGE smile and tearful joy! Yay! Cheers!!! 🤗💖🌻
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Thank you so very much for your enthusiasm. I really appreciate it! You made me smile, warmed my heart, and made me feel on purpose. Hugs to you! Wishing you a wonderful week ahead. Cheers! 🌞🤗💖
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Oh YAY!!! My absolute pleasure! And Thank You! Wishing You a wonderful week ahead as well!!! 🤗💖😊
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🤗💗
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such a beautiful poem delectably formed and tastefully delivered and received Micele!
💖💖
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Gorgeous phrases! Thank you very much, Cindy. 🙏🏻💖
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It’s always a pleasure Michele
💖
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Divinely. Such a lovely recitation, Michelle. It’s true what you say about structure and isn’t nature amazing. The sunflower is gorgeous representation of this.
The laws of nature. (Quantum) physics, biology, and chemistry make up our world.
Don’t feel bad you didn’t get an “awe” response. You’re more enlightened than the others as the Golden Ratio is what you saw. Like in any poem. Particularly in the Fibonacci Spiral Poem’s pattern. You saw that first. Lovely. You drew me in. Thanks for sharing.
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Nature is amazing, yes. 😍 Thank you so much for your interesting and engaging comment, Selma, that shows an insightful understanding of my poem. Much gratitude! 🙏🏻
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Very sad to see something so beautiful fading away.
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Yes, the cycle of life. I found great beauty in the fascinating structure of her colorless shell. 🌻 Thank you, Dawn.
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Lovely poem Michele! Sunflowers are so special, such a short lifespan though ☹️
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I am so glad you enjoyed my sunflower tribute. They are special to watch as they climb toward the sun and short-lived, yes. Great to read you! 🌞
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There is such wisdom in your words, and hearing them aloud in your voice adds to their beauty. I read it twice and loved it even more the second time. I shall be looking at sunflowers quite differently now. 😊💕
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I am happy to read you found some wisdom in my words and that my poem offered you a new perspective. Most rewarding for me! I have learned a few things that sometimes finds a place in a poem. 😁 Thank you very much, Aaysid, for appreciating and acknowledging. 🌻🙏🏻💗
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The pleasure is all mine, Michele! ❤
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Lovely share!
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Thank you, Warren! 😊
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Fantastic Michele!
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Thank you, Belladonna. I really appreciate your support. 🙏🏻
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💜💜💜
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This poem is a beautiful expression of love, and I loved the way you read it Michele!
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It did feel that, as I recalled that sunflower memory and wrote my way toward lines that attempted to define love, in its truest essence. Thank you very much, Conny, for your visits and beautiful comments today. 💗
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This was a wonderful uplifting read, Michele. Beautiful tender verses! ❤
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Thank you, Tom, for reading and offering such wonderful feedback today. I am grateful. 💗
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Sunflowers are so interesting. The colors, the patterns, The dry heads full of seeds… are all so very special.
I liked this…
no lives were changed
on that classroom rug
except mine
it seemed
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Of course, I agree with you, Dwight. I was fascinated as a small child, by the structure and the size. Thank you for sharing your favorite line! 🌻
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My pleasure!
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This is beautiful, Michele! 🥰😘😍
I love this line:
“Torn, I was, between wanting
to pluck each one
crack them open
and swallow them whole
or leave each shell
in its protective bed
perfectly secure”
And this:
“Love
the kind that shows up
when you’re not looking
that sees the beauty
when all the golden has
fallen away
the kind that is protected
like a lost babe
in the arms
of another
that smolder
with the
beauty of it
and
hold it up
like
the sun”
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Thank you so much, Adelheid! I love learning which lines stand out. 💖🙏🏻 Best to you!
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