In 1980, way back when,
My parents dreamt a dream and then
They opened up a set of doors
filled with flowers, wall to floors.
I was small, my sister smaller,
the shoppe the place we both grew taller.
Bit by bit and day by day,
the seasons swept our months away.
The petals that papered our lives walls
now decorate my memory’s halls.
Now the store has closed its doors,
seeking refuge from these retail wars.
This loss has not led to inner strife,
just reflections on my early life.
Some things I simply grabbed for granted,
well I realize now that roots were planted.
Pen in hand, I’ll now be brief,
collect some closure, reap relief.
From tiny toddler to six feet, three inches,
here are lessons learned in pinches:
I learned of labor and tireless toil,
a healthy harvest needs healthy soil.
I tasted freedom – sweet for sure -
that led to self employed allure.
I kept tight tally of boons and busts,
committed to memory, the mustn’ts and musts.
Colors can contrast and still be stupendous -
the right hue and right texture together tremendous.
The life of a flower is full though it’s fleeting.
That one’s the crown jewel, so it bares repeating.
Flowers they fade, but live rather loud.
Life your one life in a way that is proud.
For most of my years, it colored my life,
filled it with beauty and brought me my wife.
The store is now gone. The memories are not.
even after sun sets, our star is still hot.
About Sean Platt
Lovely poem and wonderful pictures! Thanks for sharing both!
Lovely poem and wonderful pictures! Thanks for sharing both!
Beautiful … thanks for sharing.
Beautiful … thanks for sharing.
This sounds like someplace I would be sad to see go if it had been in my community; I’m always rooting for small businesses and those shops that make a place unique. There are fewer and fewer, it seems, replaced by the McGapMarts of the world. It’s a shame. (Although even the chain stores seem to be having difficulties in this economy.)
Did Mia get to see the store before it closed?
This sounds like someplace I would be sad to see go if it had been in my community; I’m always rooting for small businesses and those shops that make a place unique. There are fewer and fewer, it seems, replaced by the McGapMarts of the world. It’s a shame. (Although even the chain stores seem to be having difficulties in this economy.)
Did Mia get to see the store before it closed?
aaaahhh…. life in bloom. Enjoyed your view on lessons from folks, flowers and freedoms.
aaaahhh…. life in bloom. Enjoyed your view on lessons from folks, flowers and freedoms.
It’s interesting that you’ve learned so much from your parents owning a store. It makes a lot of sense that this experience made you realize that you, too, want to be self-employed.
It’s interesting that you’ve learned so much from your parents owning a store. It makes a lot of sense that this experience made you realize that you, too, want to be self-employed.
It’s a beautiful thing when your goodbyes are so full of beautiful memory you have to write them or paint them. You painted this one with your poetry. I particularly like the couplet, The petals that papered our lives walls
now decorate my memory’s halls.
It’s a beautiful thing when your goodbyes are so full of beautiful memory you have to write them or paint them. You painted this one with your poetry. I particularly like the couplet, The petals that papered our lives walls
now decorate my memory’s halls.
Ah one of my favorites. Rhymes and flowers. Your words sing and my heart will always swoon for the beautiful bundles of pretty you made for many and especially for me. Our family is so fortunate to have a Daddy that is so gifted with words and the ability to make everything pretty. I will miss the playground of your youth, but the flowers we are nurturing named Mia and Max are the best bouquets yet. Always your flower forever.
Cindy
Ah one of my favorites. Rhymes and flowers. Your words sing and my heart will always swoon for the beautiful bundles of pretty you made for many and especially for me. Our family is so fortunate to have a Daddy that is so gifted with words and the ability to make everything pretty. I will miss the playground of your youth, but the flowers we are nurturing named Mia and Max are the best bouquets yet. Always your flower forever.
Cindy
This poem sings, as do the pictures. A beautiful post.
Karen
This poem sings, as do the pictures. A beautiful post.
Karen
Stunning photos! and a lovely poem.
Stunning photos! and a lovely poem.
Wow. You just gave me an “aha” moment. If more stores looked like this, I wouldn’t hate shopping.
I always wondered why I hated shopping when all my girl pals adore it so. I call myself the guerrilla shopper. I go in, I scope out where I need to go, I find what I need, then I get myself out of there. And today I know why. There’s no beauty anymore.
Our community has its Walmart. Being a small place, we don’t have much else. Walmart is cheap, but Walmart is boring. They are all alike. Grocery stores are all alike. Malls are all alike. Day in and day out, nothing changes.
But that flower store–just look at it. A visual treat–a place to explore. By the very nature of flowers, it is always changing. I want to go there and spend money.
And now I know. I don’t hate shopping. I hate the mundane.
Wow. You just gave me an “aha” moment. If more stores looked like this, I wouldn’t hate shopping.
I always wondered why I hated shopping when all my girl pals adore it so. I call myself the guerrilla shopper. I go in, I scope out where I need to go, I find what I need, then I get myself out of there. And today I know why. There’s no beauty anymore.
Our community has its Walmart. Being a small place, we don’t have much else. Walmart is cheap, but Walmart is boring. They are all alike. Grocery stores are all alike. Malls are all alike. Day in and day out, nothing changes.
But that flower store–just look at it. A visual treat–a place to explore. By the very nature of flowers, it is always changing. I want to go there and spend money.
And now I know. I don’t hate shopping. I hate the mundane.
“even after sun sets, our star is still hot.” Loved that! What a great thought Sean….you have good words indead!
“even after sun sets, our star is still hot.” Loved that! What a great thought Sean….you have good words indead!