Invasive Species (#73)

A villanelle on a villainous flower, indeed.

Bright lupins are not native to eastern Canada, but continue to persist in our landscapes. (Bryn Robinson, 2018)

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Invasive Species 

Another data point for the regression line:
eager to wolf soil of essential food, 
the polished beast stalks from the sunshine.   

"He used to plant these by the pine," 
she sighed, spying the fresh cut lupins, bedewed.
Another data point for the regression line.

Violet and rouge burst forth from tender spine - 
but while she smiles, it has shifted the mood. 
The polished beast stalks from the sunshine.  

Most of her stories seemed benign - 
only shares flashes before they are skewed. 
Another data point for the regression line.   

Or how he smiled, baring incisor, canine,
while fair blooms embed in new soil - never subdued.
The polished beast stalks from the sunshine. 
 
Each time since I spy their colour along the coastline, 
I pause; her fear has found new dirt to intrude. 
The polished beast stalks from the sunshine:
another data point for the regression line.   

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As I continue along with my poetry plan - to first fill a notebook before stitching together fragments as drafts to be edited - I’ve stuttered.

I just want to hammer out a poem.

Perhaps a signal that the original plan has born all the fruit it can?

Perhaps motivated by others’ work, like this piece in

Technocomplex

last week that considers the end of another summer:

"An unloved sweetgum is a trusty herald"

Mark also shared this piece by Wendell Berry, which helped me to reconsider and evaluate my original plan; to consider that I’ve not fed the well of inspiration enough with experience and exposure to others’ outputs. With meaningful practice.

I also think to

Brian Reindel 👾⚔️

and his sharing of works on here before publishing his book. Getting feedback on work would be helpful as I go, not just all at once.

All that said, I am almost done filling the book. I think I’ll finish it before drafting in earnest - but with the adjustment that I’ll use a Sidequest to play with words more, too.

What do you think about the plan, and about the poem? All constructive feedback is welcome and appreciated.

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