Iris
Image by Albina White from Unsplash
**Trigger warning: death and loss of loved one.**
Iris, leaves of red, yellow, gold
fall ground-ward, carpeting
dew-wet grass, where autumn
walks in her season.
Iris, huge white flowers
appear on your magnolia.
Why? It’s November.
She should be asleep.
Iris, why do I grieve
for a generation-length
of passing time? I saw
blood-red leaves falling
as the car spun in death
on that November night,
but your magnolia blossoms
with hope of life eternal.
Iris, you were in the summer
of your days. The magnolia
flowers in memory of you.
Iris, it blooms for me, too.
For more nature-themed reflections on life, loss, memory, and more, check out these stunning pieces by our authors around the world.
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Susan Carberry
Susan lives in NW London. Her poems are an eclectic mix of social commentary, the natural world, the human condition, humour, and her deep faith in God, and they appear in several anthologies. She recently published her own poetry booklet, Eternal Ephemera. Susan is a Poet in Residence to the gardeners of Roundwood Park. She reads her work for events at the City Literature Institute, and has begun writing flash fiction and short stories. She’s a familiar figure in her local cafes and restaurants, where she sits with a coffee and writes, gaining inspiration from the world around her.
Susan has participated in several recorded readings with others. Find them on You-Tube as an Anthology and Late Line productions.
