Jama’s Alphabet Soup is hosting this week’s round-up: http://jamarattigan.com/
All month, I’ve noodled ideas for Michelle Barnes’ Ditty of the Month requited/unrequited love poem challenge. And though I’ve played with some ideas, they were too embarrassed to come outside for the whole world to see.
I respected that.
Then, quite unexpectedly, yesterday I saw a solitary Dandelion puff growing alongside the edge of the patio. Not remembering when I last had seen one of my childhood playmates, I rejoiced, and–I guess, in retrospect–I dreamed (of which childhood love I do not know:), awakening today with this poem:
How much I counted on those floral love-meters. And how many times, unsatisfied with the first meter reading, I plucked another flower clean, floral sacrifice to my love-interest need-to-knowing.
As I thought about that childhood ritual and how, on the second try, after reversing the “loves me; loves me not” order, the conclusion was always more favorable, I sought to investigate the phenomenon. Dandelion to dandelion, was the sum of petals always an “even” number? If so, that would explain why reversing the order (starting, counter-intuitively, with “He loves me not”) produced the desired results.
A quick Internet search seemed to belie my supposition. At first disappointed, then I thought. How like grownups I have become, trying to spoil all the spontaneity, all the fun. If there really is a mathematical, sequence-pattern explanation for why the do-over worked, I prefer not to know. I prefer to believe now, as I did then, that the boy I had in mind as I plucked the flowers to the stem truly loved me very much!
What about you? Did you pick petals to find out if he loved you very much? Do little girls still engage in such rituals today? (I hope so; petal-plucking may be transformed someday into a fondly remembered requited/unrequited love poem.)
cbhanek 
Yes I did do this and once in awhile I’m tempted to do it again! Lovely post!
Thank you so very much for reading/responding. Your comment makes me smile…Glad to know I wasn’t the only one..Those were the days, weren’t they? God bless you!
Yes they were and children nowadays are often too busy in their phones to enjoy like that! God bless you also!
Thank you:)…After so many centuries of children’s rituals and games been passed along, I have to wonder if some of the outdoor games will become extinct–perhaps without any notice. Sad. Unfortunate.
Very!
Oh my, this brought back memories of that childhood fascination about love and petals. I remember how we would repeat the process until the desired response. Thanks for sharing this poem. It seems the poems today are bringing me back to my childhood.
Yes! Me too… Amazing how that works–like some shared something’s in the air! …Thank you so much for reading/sharing your memories. Those were the days…even if I rebelled hearing adults tell me how I would look back on them nostalgically…God bless you!
How wonderful that you woke with this poem demanding its voice be heard! Flowers can be very forthright. 😉 One thing I like about you, cb, is that you are patient with yourself as well as determined. Thanks for not giving up on this month’s challenge. You did a great job!
Thank you so very much! After so many years of encouraging students of all ages, it’s nice to be on the receiving end. Mind if I consider you my teacher-mentor-coach? Please know that this student appreciates your challenging assignments, as well as your encouraging feedback. I know it’s not part of the non-tuition payment, but if ever you are willing to give constructive criticism, I would very much appreciate that, too! So many times I really do feel totally embarrassed submitting my feeble attempts at poetry. But you’re right! I love poetry and as long as I’m permitted to participate, I’m going to keep trying my best to become (more) polished…God bless you, and thanks for being you, Coach!
Wonderful visual poem — a nice reminder of childhood days and petal plucking, the innocent hope of a favorable result. One petal can reverse affection? Can we then also determine destiny by our plucking?
I hear ya! .. I love how you philosophize. .Looking back on my childhood practice as I was writing the post (The poem seemed to write itself.), I admit feeling a little scared for myself–innocence, stupidity, self-indulgence, self-deceit, manipulation….What was that ritual all about?. Your questions have inspired me to see if there is any psycho-social research on this particular childhood practice. Thank you, jama!!!
Your poem is filled with the rituals of childhood long forgotten. The reverse effect poem brought back similar feelings. Thanks for sharing and having me float back to yesteryear.
Thank you for reading and sharing your very kind response. Glad you enjoyed a yesteryear moment!
Did you play the game of spinning the apple stem and saying letters? I’d try so hard to twist gently until I got to the letter of my crush’s name!
No! I never heard of that game; if I had, I would have played it–just as you did:) …I played a lot of jump rope games, too, with boys’ names…I’ll have to look up that game you mentioned. If the name didn’t work out, at least, I hope, in consolation, you could always eat the apple:)…Thanks for taking time to read/comment. God bless you!
Cute poems, CB. Though I used daisies. Not dandelions.
Yes! Sometimes I used daisies, too. Whatever was growing that had petals was fair game:) Thanks for taking time to read/respond! God bless you.