Verbal Description
A portrait image
A close-up view of a coral-colored gladiola. The gladiola’s resolute green stem climbs up the left side of the photo, balancing the blurred green shadows in the background on the right side of the image. The stem cups a vertical row of open blossoms, a softly focused band of brilliant color extending from top to bottom.
On the right, a series of petals appear stacked, folding into soft points with space between them where the blurred background is visible. Near the bottom, a relative absence of color is noticeable on several petals as they open to the light. At the top, a drop of water glistens on a petal’s edge. In the center of the image, a small wandering insect explores the cavernous opening of the flower.
Throughout the image, the ruffled edges of the living coral flowers meander up the frame, in and out of light and shadow. They intertwine leaving ambiguity about where one blossom begins and another one ends, concealing the distinctions that would suggest any clear center.
This morning the garden sang to me.
I decided to join in by smiling.
I might have added more
If I knew the words.
But something tells me
Gladness offers
A precious grace
To every
Even silent harmony.
