Happy Poetry Month! As I’ve done for a few years now (sometimes successfully, sometimes not so), I intend to write a daily poem in April. This year I added a theme to the project: Flowers from A-Z. I’ll write a poem about a type of flower for each letter of the alphabet (plus a few extra). I’ll continue to post on Fridays, rounding up one or two of my favorites from the week.
To get started, I wrote about the African Violets I planted as a tribute to my mother.
African Violets: A Tribute
My mother grew African Violets,
purple and pink,
on a sunny sill.
I remember the velvety leaves,
as soft as the ears of the cat who
not-so-politely
curled around and through the path of the pots.
I remember the bright blossoms,
the warmth…
and much more.
I remember now with my own blooms—
minus the cat.
Draft 2022, Rose Cappelli
Heidi has the round up today at my juicy little universe along with lots of other poetry goodness.
Imagine the Possibilities 
Rose, I love African Violets and they way the cat wind it’s way through your poem. What a great project and goal as April first is about to arrive.
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Thanks, Janice.
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I love the idea of an alphabetical bouquet of flower poems for NPM, Rose! I’ve had mixed luck with growing African violets and zero luck with cats – Smidgey sees to that! 😉
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What a great project! I can’t wait to see what flowers you choose for your April bouquet!
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I love that you’re going to create an alphabetical bouquet, Rose, & starting with African violets & memory from your mother is so loving, even if you don’t include “the cat”. It’s a smile & a laugh!
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From the very first line, we know it’s a poem grounded in deep emotion…thank you, Rose!
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Playful twist around the “path of the pots,” the cat takes and bringing the cat in again at the end, thanks Rose!
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Looking forward to your alphabetical bouquet, Rose–it’s lovely how you’ve brought your mother’s windowsill into the present, with or without the cat!
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Oh, the power of poetry, Rose. My mother-in-law had a windowsill full of African violets, which she lovingly nurtured. I inherited them when she passed, and while I was not as successful, I kept the lovely pots they were in to keep her in my daily thoughts. Thank you for bubbling up those happy memories with your perfect words.
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Rose, this is an interesting topic for celebrating National Poetry Month. Your African violets look so lovely on you window sill and your poem is a beautiful reminder of your mother and cat. I appreciate the plants you grow since I could never get the right touch with this plant.
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I love that you are writing about flowers this month. What a great challenge. I love the visuals of the cat winding through the pots.
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I love the whole idea of this project. I can just picture the cat tip-toeing through the African violets.
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Rose, what a fun project. I love A to Z themes and flowers, so this is a lovely idea in my opinion. Thanks for the image too. African violets are beautiful, and I have never had luck getting them to bloom, so I appreciate yours and your mom’s green (and pink and purple) thumbs.
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I’m sure you’ve left space for a cat! (I’m staying with my cousin, who has a lush and leafy specimen of African violet that we were only just admiring, with its single, purple bloom.)
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Rose, African Violets are still a favorite for my mom, too. I like how “velvety leaves” lends itself to remembering.
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What a perfect poem project for you! I remember my mother growing African violets on a window sill much like yours. I have not been as successful.
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