This is really a poem for children with a story to it. It will also teach them, as human beings, that in sharing the world with others, they must not think always that what they do is better than anyone else's efforts, because one person may like one thing but that doesn't mean that there is not beauty in something else. In other words, there is no right or wrong in beauty - only difference. It could well be a centre-point for a class discussion.
Here is the picture of The Poppy Field for you to see:
http://www.reproarte.com/picture/Vincent+van_Gogh/The+poppy+field+/5188.html
A rose and poppy talked about –
Which flower was loved the best.
The rose explained: “It’s surely me.
I’m better than the rest.”
"Which flower do lovers give as gifts -
The poppy or the rose?
It’s roses that they buy for love,
As everybody knows.”
The poppy thought about this fact -
And sadly had to sigh.
She admitted this was surely true.
And this caused her to cry.
Her sister poppies all agreed
“The rose is best of all.
Our petals were not made to last-
And very quickly fall.”
A painter came into their field -
“Van Gogh’s my name”, he said
“I want to paint a famous scene –
With poppies proud and red.”
“The beauty in your crimson flowers
Has really touched my heart.
And people will remember you
Each time they see my art.”
Today the poppies lift their heads.
You’ll never hear them cry.
For in Van Gogh’s lovely painting
They’ll never ever die.
Copyright 2008
www.whiteheadm.co.uk
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Terrific Josie!
Written by mr_soul (80 comments posted) 15th April 2008 |
Ah what a lovely poem Josie. I'm glad you mentioned Van Gogh aswell, he's such an interesting character. I like the point you put across in the poem, beauty belongs to those who see it, what they see beauty in depends on the person.
Overall though, another gem, really liked this. |
Written by lauthiamkok (60 comments posted) 15th April 2008 |
| I liked this story poem bcos its a relativity in my subjective interpretation. Thank you Josie. |
Written by Katanga (724 comments posted) 15th April 2008 |
| Exquisite! A refreshing and beautifully wrought take on the folly of vanity and the eventual pay-back for a modicum of humility. |
Written by Josie (2496 comments posted) 15th April 2008 |
| Thank you everyone. Lau, you will need to explain what you said to me in simple English I'm afraid as I haven't studied psychology, but I am glad that you like it. It is absolutely true: sometimes we see beauty in something because it stands out and has been recognized as being beautiful, but sometimes, if you look down, even a little dandelion or daisy can be beautiful on a bank, sitting quietly in the sunshine and not "shouting from the rooftops". |
relativity
Written by lauthiamkok (60 comments posted) 15th April 2008 |
Its Einstein's theory Josie. Basically, it says the way in which things relate to one another depends on the point from which they are being observed. Or in other words, things are relatively beautiful and also relatively ugly depends on the point from which they are being observed. Just like the conversation of the rose and the poppy in your story.
Lau :-) |
on relativity
Written by lauthiamkok (60 comments posted) 15th April 2008 |
Also, we can see the theory of relativity from the estern philosophy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhuangzi
Another example about two famous courtesans points out that there is no universally objective standard for beauty. This is taken from Chapter 2 (齊物論 qí wù lùn) "On Arranging Things", or "Discussion of Setting Things Right" or, in Burton Watson's translation, "Discussion on Making All Things Equal".
Men claim that Mao [Qiang] and Lady Li were beautiful, but if fish saw them they would dive to the bottom of the stream; if birds saw them they would fly away, and if deer saw them they would break into a run. Of these four, who knows how to fix the standard of beauty in the world? (2, tr. Watson 1968:46)
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Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder
Written by Josie (2496 comments posted) 15th April 2008 |
| I've already written on this subject Lau in the non fiction side. I didn't exactly say that one worm would find another worm beautiful, but I did emphasize the fact that we tell children that good is beautiful and evil is ugly, which isn't necessarily right. Children believe that ugly people are all bad, but often it is the people who we think of as beautiful who are evil. One could talk about this all day, but thanks for explaining what you meant. It makes complete sense. |
Written by Phil (6393 comments posted) 15th April 2008 |
I think younger children might well like this, Josie. It's regular rhythms and rhymes gives them the security to join in.
Odd -I had the children in my class use some paintings to help with some writing last week. Some really good outcomes.
Phil |
Written by Fledermaus (3159 comments posted) 15th April 2008 |
Hi Josie,
With Van Gogh I rather think of sunflowers 
And who decorates the graves of fallen British soldiers? Not the rose! I remember visiting Scotland during that month and since then I always have to think of those brave men when I see a poppy. So while the rose may represent love and passion, the poppy certainly stands for courage, freedom and sacrifice.
The philosopher Lauthiamkok mentions is great btw. My little "Butterfly haiku" was about that man. Quite an unique view of things.
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Written by mia_ms_kim (891 comments posted) 15th April 2008 |
Lovely poem, though Van Gogh himself rather had a sad life and ending. Poppy plants - aren't they also very useful in providing medicinal goods? eg. painkillers. (as well as abusable drugs, I suppose.) And what interesting discussion. Have you seen the picture of the world's 1st Miss World (or Universe, I forget)? She would be classified as obese by today's terms, and on the "plain to unattractive". Just on the women's beauty, if WWII was won by Japan (I'm glad they lost), the standard of beauty today might be Asian.
Mia  |
To Mia
Written by Fledermaus (3159 comments posted) 15th April 2008 |
"Have you seen the picture of the world's 1st Miss World (or Universe, I forget)? ...the standard of beauty today might be Asian."
Looked them up... Miss Universe is Japanese and Miss World is Chinese, so I guess the standard is already Asian? |
Oops
Written by Fledermaus (3159 comments posted) 15th April 2008 |
1st... I thought latest...  |
Miss World/Universe
Written by mia_ms_kim (891 comments posted) 16th April 2008 |
I just looked them up, Fledermaus. I had no idea! But did you notice those Asian girls look a little too European? Esp, Miss Japan?
You go to Korea, and young women all look the same. They have cosmetic surgery to look European, eg folded eyelids, high nose bridge etc... Many now are blondish (give me a break!) Some female Korean movie stars are so fixed up, they look like they are from the Andromeda[sp?] galaxy to me. The standard of Asian beauty used to be small eyes, dainty hands and feet, small stature, a little plump etc. Those Asian girls probably would be "unattractive" by that standard.
And I would not be surprised if China produces no 1 in everything. The sheer statistics demand it.
Mia - sorry, Josie, for going on about this on your work space. |
Written by Lizzy (781 comments posted) 16th April 2008 |
What a good poem Josie, and yes children would like it, even though the message behind it is relevant to adults.
Its a little like the story of the wind and the sun and who could make the man take off his coat!
Lizzy |
Written by Josie (2496 comments posted) 16th April 2008 |
| Thank you everyone. Very interesting reviews and discussions. It is well to always realize that what one person calls "art" or "beauty" or any abstract term, may not be described the same way as by another. As for me, I have already written "Flower of the Eternal Sleep" which has given the poppy pride of place. The rose is feeling neglected I think now. Thanks again. |
A Small Tought
Written by Katanga (724 comments posted) 19th April 2008 |
Hello Josie!
This is one of my recent favourites, as you know. I keep rereading it - I always try reading poetry aloud to test the meter,scanning and rythm - and something has occured to me.
I am not comfortable with the third line in the third stanza - 'And this caused her to cry'.
I think it's too 'scientific'.
Personally' I feel this would read better as
'And this made her cry.'
It would lose none of the rythm, and gain more immediacy.
Please feel free to disagree - love it so much anyway!
John XXX |
Written by Josie (2496 comments posted) 20th April 2008 |
I have looked at that line and "the thought caused her to cry" meant that the line started with two unstressed iambic feet, whereas, as Ihave now changed it, it reads:
and THIS caused HER to CRY - - which is perfect metre, and less clumsy. Thanks. "And this made her cry" would not have been metrically correct. Now try reading it again. Three iambic feed in this line, as in the others. |
Written by Bonbon (15 comments posted) 22nd April 2008 |
Welldone Josie I loved this poem. At the beggining it is sad for the poppies but then in the end the poppies are happy.The poem was easy to understand.
I think you were right to change the line that said "the thought caused her to cry" to "and this caused her to cry".  |
Written by 1211kellie (75 comments posted) 17th May 2008 |
Lovely storyline & beautiful poem - I have always found great pleasure in poppies growing wild in the corn fields.
Another superior performance. |
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