Image credit: Danny Gregory, Flickr
Pink, so stereotypical
Redundantly feminine
Behind rosy lips
Lies the real venom
Like peonies placed
Gently on worn tables
Dripping on doilies
Twisting on fables
Out of the doghouse
With petals of penitence
Tied in a bow
With ribbons of arrogance
He didn’t mean it
This bouquet will speak
Softly in fuchsia
An offering to the weak
~
Today at dVerse, Gabriella introduced us to Danny Gregory, who kindly allowed us to use his artwork as a prompt for poetry.
mishunderstood 
Beautiful water colour and drawing, Did you do?
The artwork is credited to Danny Gregory. Lovely, isn’t it? I can only take credit for the poem. Thanks for dropping in. 🙂
You’re welcome. The poem is more sinuous in meaning to me. The hidden agenda of pink? The deceitfulness of beauty…? Perhaps it’ll sink in. Thank you however, I love peonies and sweet peas, don’t you?
I read a painful story behind this little bouquet. I like how you have used flowers to tell a story and hope the regrets are real.
Thanks, Gabriella.
“Behind rosy lips lies the real venom.” So often this is so very true. Beauty can disguise lots of things.
Yes it can…or cover up the truth. Thanks, Mary. 🙂
ouch…without meaning, the gifts to pacify mean little…
unless weak, and needing overcome the truth…
So true, Brian. Thanks.
The story behind the lines.. like that venom behind rosy lips.. this is one of my favorites from you.. very strong..
Your comment made my day. Thank you. 🙂
I take it that the peonies are an offering, to make amends, sort of, to the weak ~I also like this part:
Behind rosy lips
Lies the real venom
Thank you, Grace.
Yes, an overused bouquet of “I’m sorry”.
Sometimes people see what they want, they believe the symbol of a bouquet though the giver is not honest. I like your poem very much.
Thanks, Myrna.
Sometimes this is the case. 🙂
Very powerful….the venom behind the lips, the petals of penitence….an offering to the weak. Really well done!
Thanks so much, Sherry! 🙂
I like how you didn’t go the expected “sweet” route, but dove deeper into the other facets of humanness.
Thank you, Victoria. A very insightful comment. 🙂
Most interesting and enjoyable, a poem with depth – love it.
Thanks, Polly…so glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Wow, Mish! Great poem that packs a punch. Thank you for shining a light on Domestic Violence.
Hi Melanie 🙂 When I began to write it, I didn’t expect it to become so serious, but it did. Thanks for your thoughtful comments….always appreciated.
This one packs an unexpected punch!
Thank you, Shery 🙂