an allegory
Happy Valentine's Day


The Gardener and The Lady

She was dying entangled and choked by unyielding weeds.
Trampled, neglected, and forgotten, she slowly succumbed
to the barren soil, poisoned by apathy and abuse. Until,
the gardener passed her way.

He, an observer and lover of nature, saw her there limp
and without visible signs of life. Being a gardener,
he looked beyond the surface of her condition
to find her roots. There he found some life,
a hope for growth and beauty.

Gingerly he lifted her up, careful of her life source,
and took her home.  He provided for her the richest
soil, fed her nutrients, and spoke to her encouraging
words of love. He lavished her with deeply felt affection,
adored her, worshiped her. In his gentle way,
he revived her and she thrived.

Today you will find them together in their haven. She, now
adorned in glossy leaves the color of emeralds, holds her head
up high. Her soft red petals have opened and reveal the heart
of who she is. Each morning and each evening they meet. She
waits in all her splendour and releases her fragrance as he
softly speaks her name, Rose.

Kathy Lockhart
2/14/07





Short story by Kathy Lockhart
Read 1181 times
Written on 2007-02-14 at 05:49

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kyew
a beautiful piece you have here. inspiring

gardeners
fight weeds
for treasure
2007-03-03


night soul woman The PoetBay support member heart!
A true masterpiece!How did I miss this one?*applause*and *bookmarked*
2007-02-18


Saga
What a beautiful dedication of hope darling!!!
2007-02-17


Karen Canning
to scratch below the surface always reveals so much more, you are an equisite poet, your pen writes such wonderful poetic lines

huggs
Karen
2007-02-15


BlueyedSoul
What a beautiful story Kathy!

Your talent shines in so many lights with this lovely allegory.
~Blue
2007-02-15


Phyllis J. Rhodes
So delicately told, a love born from earth like the first love of man for a woman as God designed it to be in the first garden. I love the tenderness of it, the elements of it. The raw, unadorned earth, dirt, that holds so much that comes alive with love. You have written beautifully here sister.
2007-02-15


lastromantichero The PoetBay support member heart!
and i return again to read this beautiful love story about the simple love of a mortal gardner and a lady and how beautiful you describe it

how delicately you made the allegorical connection of the nurturing of plants and the expression of love

maybe
the gardner will bring you a rose too

well done katherine its a lovely poem xxx
2007-02-14


zeeshan
this world , thi life is never over untill you pronounce it, yes its true there is always someone who cares for you.


rgrds:zee
2007-02-14


kath
And I am also reminded of "The little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. He cares for his rose and loves it....

Your poem is such a beutiful reminder of how if love is neglected there will only be dead gardens...

a beautiful reminder on Valentines day

well done you managed to make it so beautiful and with a fresh touch

"In his gentle way,
he revived her and she thrived."

these two lines tells us were to start in love..

best wishes
Katherine
2007-02-14


lastromantichero The PoetBay support member heart!
Katherine this is a story a fable a love song to the wonder of love and gentleness
like a parable of romance it hold the reader to its breast and i love it

my grandfather was a proffesional gardner and i know from experience the
love for nurturing plants is often
the precursor of a love story
this is as true as the story Jean De floret and Manon De Source

in my favs

it exudes you gentleness
xx rgds Michael
2007-02-14


J. E.
Ah, romance. Many a beautiful word in there, it flows so well.
2007-02-14