Simple Gifts

One must take care
when confronted with fragility.
Gardenia petals bruise easily.
Strong hands support the newborn’s head.
Grief must be consoled,
memories gently relived,
tears allowed to flow.
Mother Earth deserves respect,
her beauty preserved.
Empathic understanding
and quiet listening,
truly divine gifts.


Written for Quadrille Monday at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets around the globe. Sanaa asks us to write a 44 word poem, sans title, that includes the word “care”. Image from Pixabay.com

13 thoughts on “Simple Gifts

  1. Kim of Glover Gardens's avatar Kim of Glover Gardens July 28, 2026 / 9:36 am

    Nice how you tied together caring for the earth, a newborn, grieving and delicate flowers. It’s such a gentle and sweet poem, Lillian.

    Like

  2. kim881's avatar kim881 July 28, 2026 / 9:50 am

    I enjoyed your simple gifts quadrille, Lill, and agree that Mother Earth deserves respect. We need to listen to understand.

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  3. Paula Light's avatar Paula Light July 28, 2026 / 9:53 am

    Wonderful description of fragile things that need loving care 💜

    Like

  4. Gillena Cox's avatar Gillena Cox July 28, 2026 / 11:27 am

    Loving care, in all things, is definetly a must

    Bravo

    Thanks for dropping by my blog

    much love

    Liked by 1 person

  5. sanaarizvi's avatar sanaarizvi July 28, 2026 / 4:53 pm

    This is exquisitely drawn, Lil! I resonate with; “Strong hands support the newborn’s head.” ❤️❤️

    Like

  6. thetigressawakens's avatar thetigressawakens July 28, 2026 / 9:00 pm

    Indeed, its important to give care to this play we live! Loved it! 💛

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  7. ms pie's avatar ms pie July 28, 2026 / 10:55 pm

    gardenias… so very very true…. wonderful reflection of care… i do not like to pick them… as soon as you pick them tis true they start to wilt… beautiful response to the quadrille prompt

    Liked by 1 person

  8. merrildsmith's avatar merrildsmith July 29, 2026 / 12:04 pm

    I so agree, Lill! Newborns, grief, Mother Earth all gently tied together here.

    If only people understood this:

    “Empathic understandingand quiet listening,”

    Like

  9. kaykuala's avatar kaykuala July 29, 2026 / 10:00 pm

    and quiet listening,
    truly divine gifts.

    Divine support is a great privilege! Great lines Lillian!

    Hank

    Like

  10. shaun tenzenmen's avatar shaun tenzenmen July 30, 2026 / 4:10 am

    Gardenias are dear to me as they remind me of a certain and time and person from a long time ago. Nice write Lillian 👏

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  11. ben Alexander's avatar ben Alexander July 30, 2026 / 12:03 pm

    Lillian, I love how you show that flowers, babies, grief, and the Earth all need the same kind of gentle care.

    ~David

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