Georgia O’Keeffe’s Oriental Poppies, 1929
fasciation – notice them!
double poppies growing upon single stem
beauty ignites in blood orange passion
bright flames rise from ashes
smoke ruffles edges of petalled glory;
will love burn out its story?
fair summer love goes to seed in autumn
seeds spread if wind caught them
Grace suggests we break up the couplet at dVerse today! I wrote an ekphrastic poem and tried “split couplets” with lines of uneven feet. I also learned new word 🙂
Fasciation is a rare condition where the growing tip of a plant becomes flattened or distorted, causing it to produce fused, doubled, or twin structures like multiple flower heads sharing a single stalk.
Oct 05, 2026 @ 12:56:04
Beautiful, Lynn and I learnt a new word! 🙂
Oct 05, 2026 @ 14:31:08
Yay! Thanks, Punam 🙂
Oct 06, 2026 @ 12:41:36
My pleasure, Lynn. 🙂
Oct 03, 2026 @ 05:32:21
ah lovely – some O Keefe of poetry and captured that sensual intensity
“beauty ignites in blood orange passion/ bright flames rise from ashes”
Oct 03, 2026 @ 09:34:01
Thank you, Laura, for noting that!
Oct 02, 2026 @ 09:07:49
I learned something new here… and especially love the last couplet with the seed bringing in the hope after winter.
Oct 02, 2026 @ 12:07:05
I discovered “fasciation” when searching if poppies grow as singles or multiples 🙂
Oct 02, 2026 @ 03:59:16
Thank you for the new word, Lynn, and for the lovely ekphrastic broken couplets. I love poppies; they were my mother’s favourite flower. I love the alliterative ‘paired poppies growing upon single stem’ and the line ‘beauty ignites in blood orange passion’ – such a splash of colour!
Oct 02, 2026 @ 12:04:32
Thank you, Kim! Georgia O’Keeffe’s stunning painting and Grace’s challenge inspired me 🙂
Oct 02, 2026 @ 13:51:23
You’re most welcome, Lynn!
Oct 01, 2026 @ 21:25:24
Very nice color and imagery, you are quite adept at “coupling” these together. Loveyour portrayal of wind at the end, Lynn. 💚
Oct 02, 2026 @ 12:05:15
Thanks for your lovely comment, Tigress!
Oct 01, 2026 @ 19:40:01
Beautiful
Oct 01, 2026 @ 19:48:23
Thanks, Brenda ❤
Oct 01, 2026 @ 18:21:25
I enjoyed that final line.
Oct 01, 2026 @ 19:01:19
I’m glad you liked it, Maria!
Oct 01, 2026 @ 17:46:46
First time to read about that. Love the imagery on this part:
beauty ignites in blood orange passion
bright flames rise from ashes
Oct 01, 2026 @ 17:55:10
Thank you, Grace 🙂