The Most Beautiful Flower

Hello my new friends, so nice of you to respond to my favorite quotes. I would like to share with you my favorite poem, I've read it hundreds of times, and I still get choked up when I read it, hope it touches you too.

The Most Beautiful Flower

The bench was deserted as I sat down to read
beneath the long, straggly limbs of an old willow tree.
Disillusioned by life...with reason to frown,
the world was intent on dragging me down.

If that weren't enough to ruin my day,
a young boy approached, all rumpled from play.
He stood right before me, his head tilted down,
and said with excitement, "Look what I found!"

In his hand was a flower...what a pitiful sight;
petals all worn...lack of rain, and of light.
Hoping he'd take his find and go play,
I faked a weak smile, then shifted away.

Instead of retreating, he sat nearer my side,
placed the flower to his nose and declared with surprise,
"It sure smells pretty...and it's beautiful too.
That's why I picked it, here it's for you!"

The object before me was dying or dead,
not vibrant of colors; pink, yellow nor red.
Yet I knew I must take it, or he might never leave,
so I reached for the flower and said, "Just what I need."

But rather than placing his prize in my hand,
he held it midair without reason or plan.
It was then that I noticed for the very first time,
this exuberant child could not see...he was blind.

I heard my voice quiver; tears shone in the sun,
as I thanked him for picking the very best one"
"You're welcome" he smiled, then ran off to play,
unaware of the impact he'd had on my day.

I sat there and wondered how he managed to see,
a self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree.
How did he know of my self-indulged plight?
Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight.

Through the eyes of a blind child, now I could see,
the problem was not with the world, but with me.
And for all the time I, myself had been blind,
I vowed to appreciate each moment that's mine.

Then I held that dead flower near to my nose,
sensing the fragrance of one beautiful rose.
I smiled as I watched that young boy, weed in hand,
about to enlighten a grumpy old man!

~ Author Unknown

What a lovely poem.
Something I needed to read right about now too

I've moved it to it's own thread in the poetry section!

I like this one too....
I like colors
but not everyone can see them
so there is music like Deuter
and scent, intuition, and touch...LOL

Do the best you can.
Do the best we can
Do the best
Do

copyright

This poem has so many teachings in it, how i too was blind in my life. Sometimes not seeing how another person could help me, and staying stuck in darkness. I too am hoping this blind child awakens me to see the beauty of my swaying life, so i too will become awakened like this old woman. I will look faithfully for the blind child. Thank You so much for sharing this is one of the most symbolic poems i have ever read.

Many Blessings

Linda that was one of the most beautiful poems i have ever read. Sometimes i get to feeling just like the person in the poem. Thank you for sharing it. It gave me a new outlook on my life.
Here is one of my favorite poems. I hope you enjoy it.






Barefoot and dirty, the little girl just sat in the park and watched people go by. She never tried to speak, she never said a word. Many people passed, but not one person glanced her way, no one stopped, including me.

The next day I decided to go back to the park, curious if the little girl would still be there. Right in the very spot she was yesterday, she sat perched on high, with the saddest look in her eyes.

But today I could not just walk away, concerned only with my affairs. I found myself walking over to the little girl. For as we all know, a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play alone.

As I began walking towards her, I could see the back of the little girl's dress indicated a deformity. I figured that was the reason the people just passed by and made no effort to care. As I got closer, the little girl slightly lowered her eyes to avoid my intent stare. I could see the shape of her back more clearly. It was grotesquely shaped in a humped over form.

I smiled to let her know it was okay, I was there to help, to talk. I sat down beside her and opened with a simple "hello."

The little girl acted shocked and stammered a "hi" after along stare into my eyes. I smiled and she shyly smiled back.

We talked 'til darkness fell and the park was completely empty. Everyone was gone and we were alone. I asked the girl why she was so sad. The little girl looked at me and said, "Because I am different."

I immediately said, "That you are!" and smiled. The little girl acted even sadder, she said, "I know."

"Little girl," I said, "you remind me of an angel, sweet and innocent." She looked at me and smiled slowly, she stood to her feet and said "Really?"

"Yes, dear, you're like a little guardian angel sent to watch over all those people walking by." She nodded her head, "yes,"' and smiled, and with that she spread her wings and said, "I am. I'm your guardian angel," with a twinkle in her eye.

I was speechless, sure I was seeing things. She said, "And when you began thinking of someone other than yourself, my job here was done."

Immediately I stood to my feet and said, "Wait, so why did no one else stop to help an angel?" She looked at me and smiled, "You're the only one who could see me," and she was gone.

When you think you're all you have; remember, your angel is always watching over you.
---Author UnKnown

Lovely Angel story, thank you for sharing. Linda(-:

aaawwwwhhhh,

that was so sweeet, I want an angel like that too, but you know our children
can be angels as well as other folks we meet along our journey....aaaawwwwhhhh
I loved that...

I miss my angels, too.......

God love them

"In thine own cheerful spirit live,
nor seek the calm that others give;
for thou, thyself, alone must stand,
not held up by others hand."
~ Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957)

This is so true for me, I know that my happiness lies within. Once I was standing outside smiling. My neighbor came up to me and asked "why are you smiling?" I told him "Because I am happy" he asked "Why?" I said "Why Not?"

Linda (-:

Wonderful Poem

The answer you gave regarding your happiness must have been very impressionable on this man

Linda wrote:My neighbor came up to me and asked "why are you smiling?" I told him "Because I am happy" he asked "Why?" I said "Why Not?"

I know if someone had said this to me i would definitely evaluate my life, and realize why i would question someone elses happiness as well as looking at my own happiness. Am i truly being the person that God knows i am? Am i being myself and letting my happiness show or am i hiding it in fear that other people may think i am crazy? Happiness can be expressed in many ways, i at one time thought about smiling all day long even if it was tough, i have not achieved this, because i cannot stay aware enough, i forget what my goal was or i feel other people may look at me strange. Something i need to overcome in my life, as i move along on my spiritual journey, i find a missing shard once all the shards are collected then i may reach Enlightenment.

Thank You so much for sharing your experience, something i really needed to hear as i was able to relate to it greatly.

Many Blessings