Among The Lilies

With the wind gently blowing through my hair

And the sun beating down on my skin so fair

I sit upon the golden sand

My head laying heavily in the palm of my hand.

Thoughts surround me

Struggling from within

Asking me questions in a voice so low

Questions with answers I do not know.

Flowers flowers all around

Why do your petals fall to the ground?

Is it a symbol of life?

A lesson on how to deal with pain and strife?

There you stand so beautiful, tall, and strong.

Your petals are falling fast, will you last and if so, for how long?

You cry your tears of pain

But are you pouting selfishly in vain?

Shall you bow your head in sorrow

Or pick up your petals and play like there were no tomorrow?

If you ask me, the later I would do,

For little flower, I love you!

Lori Anderson

© 4/28/1996


I wrote this poem while I was in college. I was doing a slide show project in Media Arts class. If I remember correctly, I'd taken a bunch of pictures of flowers around campus and town and had set them to the song "Wildflower" by Tom Petty. The professor loved Tom Petty, so I was totally brown nosing it! ;) Anyway, the combination of the pictures and the song inspired me to write this poem.