Flowers Grew Here
My original poem, “Flowers Grew Here,” published for the first time, right here in The Renaissance Garden Guy.
By John G. Stamos
Flowers Grew Here
John G. Stamos
In the shade of a gray potting shed, hidden by overgrowth and scrub, there is an empty forgotten flower pot.
But once, flowers grew here…
Once, a little flower pot
Sat in the sun and kept
Promises that time forgot
And hopes and plans that swept
Two into one joyous plot
While days and seasons crept
Toward a twilight undone knot
And sunlit heartbreak stepped
To the fore to rend the lot
That ‘til this time had kept
Two as one forget-me-not
In would-be ageless depth.
Flowers grew here once for a time,
Were tended with care and pride,
By those whose sunny days would end,
Expunged by a ruthless tide.
Lonely little vessel holds
The empty vow of years
Passed with eyes on gauzy gold
Petals and rising tiers
Not plucked nor scaled; the dirge rolled
And charted feckless tears,
Which shone a wretched tale told
As fragments; dewy mirrors.
The years pass and rise and fold
And yield their secrets dear,
The flower pot, in shade and cold,
Alone holds each one near.
Flowers grew here and marked a tale
Well known to the old and sage,
Of fleeting time, an aching dearth
Changing seasons can’t assuage.
“Flowers Grew Here” ©2025. John G. Stamos and The Renaissance Garden Guy
I hoped you liked this one. I’ve got to admit, it was sort of a last ditch effort. I’d been working on an article requiring hours of research, which I thought I’d have written for today’s publishing date. Didn’t happen. So, I cranked this little poem out this evening in a really short span of time. Admittedly, it’s not my best, although I really love the sentiment behind it: I’d taken a picture of an old flower pot (that really did contain some beautiful flowers for a number of years) partially hidden in the shade of some evergreens growing next to my storage shed. The photo just really struck me, brought back some memories… I think that the experience might be something worth revisiting and really expounding on. In any case, “Flowers Grew Here” is what I came up with for this evening, and again, I really do hope it wasn’t terrible.
As always, thank you so much for your kind interest and your readership. It’s all dearly appreciated.
Cheers, and Happy Gardening!
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What a beautiful poem – tender, melancholic and full of symbolic richness – An elegy to love lost –
I absolutely love how it traces the arc of memory, love, and loss through the metaphor of an abandoned flower pot! 🪴❤️
Thank you so very, very much, Roxxy. The work has resonated with you exactly as I’d hoped. Looking at that lonely little pot one day, which had been so joyously overflowing with flowers and foliage in years past, really caught me. I took the photo and I couldn’t stop looking at it. Couldn’t stop remembering… In any case, you’ve definitely caught my drift. I’m so happy that you liked it, and I’m truly grateful for your lovely thoughts and kind words. Thanks once again, Roxxy.
This is sad and sweet and very beautifully written. Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you so much, Mary. I appreciate your reading it and I appreciate your very kind words. I’d just happened to catch the flower pot in its lonely location out of the corner of my eye one day. It really struck me, so I took the photo. It brought back a lot of memories for me. It’s amazing how a simple scene and its image can be so evocative. Thanks once again, Mary.
Now I feel guilty about all the empty flower pots that I have lying around – hehehehehe.
Keep up the good work.
Thank you for reading the piece, Annie. And thanks for the kind words. I really do sometimes think of what grew at one time in a particular empty flower pot, and those thoughts can really trigger powerful memories for me. In any case, thanks once again.
Your poetry from the heart is a joy to read. No apology needed.
I really appreciate that, Rick. Thank you so very much. Sometimes I feel guilty about cranking something out quickly – like maybe quality is being sacrificed for the sake of expediency. But if you liked this particular work, than maybe – at least in this case – the two elements are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Thanks once again, Rick – I’m much obliged.
Another wonderful poem. Do not sell your amazing poetry short. It is always a joy to read and ponder.
Thank you so much for reading the poem, Kevin, and for your kind thoughts and words. I really appreciate that. I’m so happy that you enjoyed this one. The thoughts that I had about that lonely little flower pot came up on me in surprisingly touching fashion. I’m happy to hear that I didn’t tarnish them too badly by what I wrote. Thanks once again.
Lots of heartache and loss in that empty flower pot. Very moving, John.
Thank you so much for reading the poem, Lisa, and for your kind thoughts and observations. Your perception is exceptionally keen, and your heart is very, very kind. Thanks once again.