I
I see you rise up
the petal stairs of the rose
before taking to your wings.
You then waft, drift along the breeze.
Dainty damsel!
You are not of this world!
None sees you.
To all you’re neither a fairy nor a ghost
but the scent of the rose.
I delight for I see you
the fragrance of the flower ethereal.
II
You came to me in a nightmare
when stealthily you stepped out
of the fleshy corpse flower.
I wondered if you belonged to this world.
Such a macabre smell you are!
Let alone flying,
I saw you limping
on the ground.
so unsightly!
With carrion flies, beetles
following you.
Seems right companions for you!
Posted for Sanaa’s Prompt Nights: On Popular Demand – Lets gather around for some ghost stories – [8]
&
Shared with Poetry Pantry #316 @ Poets United
sumanar/lekha 
This feels like dream verses nightmare.. each vivid and emotional.. it seems only right to treasure the memory of the rose
It’s in the nose of the one who senses, I suppose, but you contrived to make me see both of them–the one who delights and the one who horrifies. I shall look closer next time I smell the roses!
Whistles!! ❤️❤️ Oh my God, this is SO beautiful Sumana 😀 its truly a visual treat! Especially love the images of ‘rising up on the petal stairs of the rose’ and ‘to all you’re neither a fairy nor a ghost but the scent of the rose.’ Beautifully executed. Thank you so much for participating at Prompt Nights and for your constant love and support ❤️❤️
Lots of love,
Sanaa
love the personification of scent…very original…so well done!!!
I love the two very different ghost you have dressed in their individual flowers… fascinating that corpse flower…
I so love “the fragrance of the flower ethereal”…..and how vivid the second description, the creeping on the ground followed by bugs. Yikes! From fragrance to unpleasant smell, both captured vividly.
Wow, such a juxtaposition here of two opposing beauquets.
This is brilliant. Couldn’t help reading it again.
This is perfect, Sumana. I never thought about it, but after your poem, I will never think of a corpse flower in the same way… I think I will always look for the ghost.
I like the way both I and II have their own perspectives! The first tending toward positive and the second the opposite!
Yes, I too was struck by the personification of scent.. a thoroughly unique and beautiful poem.
Love the way in which you juxtaposed two polar opposites as symbolized in the two “flower” verses – so fresh and imaginative. And “petal stairs” (sigh) – wonderful! I can envision the term transitioning into the title of a poem … what a beautiful image.
Luckily there is one in South Australia’s Botanic gardens in Adelaide. It doesn’t bloom every year but is one of the most popular attractions when it shows its willingness to do so. A single viewing (smelling) is usually enough.
I wondered at the contrast in your two sections – until I scrolled further and saw your second picture! I haven’t seen (or smelled) one but I hear it’s quite an experience! Roses, however, are a joy in many ways.
Oh my lol…the polar opposites of fragrant spirits….wonderful comparison…never thought of the scent being of spirit 😀 XXX
I have seen one and they really do stink:)
Ooh. More than anything, I found the conceptualization so cool.
Very well done. 🙂
i like how you personify the the smells of the rose and the rafflesia. very vivid imagery, and the contrast is so stark.
It’s hard to know why some things smell sweet and others simply reek!
It smells, feels like awakenings of smell sensations connected to beauty and love….amazing experience!
Roses and corpse flowers! I love the contrast between the sweetness of one and rot of the other.