You know Helen:
Either she’s sorrowing
over being kidnapped
(twice), or she’s
putting on her makeup.
Flowers made of tears.
Makeup made of flowers.
Either way, Helen wants us
to notice Helen. The great
beauty. Look at me; my face
launched a thousand ships.
My parents mated as birds,
and now a flower grows
with every precious tear!
You know what I say?
So what? Who cares,
Helen? Her flower,
how many people
love it? How many
gardens is it in
right now? Three?
Four? Four hundred?
It doesn’t matter.
My name is Rose.
Check out Open Link Night at dVerse Poets every Tuesday p.m.
Marilyn Rauch Cavicchia 
Great piece! I love the way it flows– reminds me of a similar poem I wrote of a Dalia. Nice work, peace, Jason
Thank you, Jason! Would I be able to find your dahlia poem on your blog?
Sure, I’d love it if you could stop by…and please, any and all constructive criticism is welcome 🙂
http://lovemorestudio.wordpress.com/2013/01/12/dalia/
Loved this!!
Thanks, Audrey!
Cool piece!
Thanks, Ayala! I’ve been learning a lot of flower lore lately.
I loved the twist yoiu put on things. Well done.>KB
Thanks so much!
Now… are we taking about Helen of Troy, that flower make-up beauty — or Helen Brown? But she looked darn fine in blue! 🙂
And kidnapped TWICE?? what? who? where? when? and why??
Must. know. More.
🙂
It’s all related to flower lore regarding helenium, aka Helen’s flower. Helen is indeed Helen of Troy, and either this flower grew wherever she shed a tear, or she used the flower for cosmetic purposes. And was kidnapped twice. And her parents were birds when they conceived her. 🙂 Here’s all the info: http://www.alchemy-works.com/helenium.html.
Gosh, I loved all that sass!
Thank you! The story of how this flower got its name (essentially, the story of Helen of Troy) was so totally bizarre that I enjoyed writing about it as if it were nothing special. Yeah, yeah, her parents mated as birds … 🙂
I laughed out loud reading this, Marilyn. Sassy indeed. I have known a few like her,
Pamela
That’s great to hear, Pamela! The twist where the sassy persona is named Rose occurred to me only at the end, and it made me laugh, too. 🙂 Thanks!
Oh Marilyn ( I mean Rose) – first time reader and what a joy to read something quirky 🙂 I liked!
A Rose by any other name…
Indeed! I thought of that saying, too. 🙂
How did you know my mother’s name1!
She is blushing.
🙂 Is her name Helen or Rose? If it’s Helen, did she know about her flower? I have one in my garden, and it’s very pretty.
In my mind I saw the actress who played Helen in the film “Troy” as I read this. Very cool, I love how you’ve woven all the little Helen dets in the story. Great work, Marilyn!
Thanks so much, Zouxzoux!
Another fantastic persona poem from you. I love the voice of Rose, and what she has to say about Helen!
Thanks so much, Jennifer! I had fun with this.