Next door cultivates perfection –
gardens pert with flowery blooms
like vibrant little soldiers heeding
the command of love’s labour,
shimmering with prideful confidence
My garden is overgrown vines,
chaos’ shameful exhibition,
bemoans the futility of planting,
knows there will be no follow through,
betrays the absence of love’s toil.
Life has schooled detachment
lessons in loss counsel defensiveness –
better to guard hope than plant it…
How can next door be so reckless;
do they not know this all for naught?
(This a rewrite of former poem also titled Next Door. Image my own.)
One Woman's Quest 
Love the painting 😍
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Thanks 😊
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Oh, you read so well, VJ 🙂 I love this line “better to guard hope than plant it.” 🙂
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Thanks Sunra!
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Ooh, I love the mocking tone!
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Lol. Thanks ☺️
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My pleasure. 😊
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I love your audio! What a beautiful poem. I know this feeling of comparison and “better to guard hope than plant it” when there will be “no follow through” without the energy!! I resonate with your words.
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Thanks Tara.
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Very interesting poem. I love the picture as well. Sometimes there is beauty in the overgrow! :>)
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Lol. I hope so. Thanks Dwight
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:>)
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Most of my neighbours prefer the manicured lawn. They employ gardeners to cut and spray. Really such a waste of money but it reflects the lifestyles that leave so little time for leisure. We are now enjoying daffodils, crocuses and snowdrops and I smile and think that I will not have to cut the grass for another months at least.
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Gardening is definitely a commitment. Can’t wait for the Spring blooms here. Thanks David.
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I love the sarcastic slant to this. Perfection can be boring.
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And stressful…thanks.
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Yes, and you’re welcome.
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This out a big smile on my face:). I can relate. Love the image. Janet
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Glad I’m not alone. Thanks Janet.
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Amazing 👏🖤
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Thanks so much!
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I relate to the gardening comparison and life in general.
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Thanks Eilene
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“Shimmering with prideful confidence I love this . I can see those little flowers. You words have painted such a clear picture of that overperfect garden. It has made my evening to read this.
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Thanks so much Anne.
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I meant to add that I love the image as well. 🙂
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😊
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Excellent poem! I love the use of metaphor. Thank you for including the spoken word version.
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Thanks Liz. I thought it needed a vocal sarcasm added.
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The vocal sarcasm served the poem well.
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Nice poem and I loved the narration!
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Thanks Janice.
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I loved the sarcastic tone. Hard to find a healthy balance of optimism and pessimism these days. I’m going to have this poem running through my head when I’m out there in my garden this spring! lol
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Glad you picked up on the sarcasm. I’m such a terrible gardener and I envy my neighbour’s beautiful efforts. Thanks.
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Enchanting
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Thanks 😊
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Love how you’ve painted the contrast between the two gardens.
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Thanks Sadje.
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My pleasure
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