Sowing Poppies | Teen Ink

Sowing Poppies

October 17, 2011
By Lexie96 GOLD, Havana, Illinois
Lexie96 GOLD, Havana, Illinois
11 articles 0 photos 378 comments

Favorite Quote:
Now Cinderella don't you go to sleep, it's such a bitter form of refuge, oh don't you know the kingdom's under siege, and everbody needs you. - The Killers


I do often wonder,
Do poppies still sow?
In the back of your mind,
Do they continue to grow?
Do your lies still fill a room,
Your silence a crowd?
Do you still close your eyes,
When you think no one is around?
Pretend I’m just an image,
Just a fragment of your mind,
That I’m not the girl you shot down,
That all is just fine?
That my bed is one of roses,
Of satin and love.
That it has not since blackened,
Unfurled to ashes and dust?
Do you still say you love me,
When you visit my grave?
Do you still tell the cops,
That you are not of any blame?
Do you still pretend when your face gets red,
That it’s not out of shame?
Do you still kneel down,
Before you start to pray?
Clasp your hands tight,
Then begin to shake?
Do you still utter a wish,
An occasional silent prayer,
That one day you’ll wake up,
And my name won’t be there?
Do you still begin to talk,
When you start to feel lonely?
Pretend that my ghost,
Is one of cronies?
Do you still swallow darkness,
As you did that last night?
Choke back a bottle,
Then begin to cry?
Pray to a girl,
Who can no longer hear you?
You’re not losing your mind,
This feeling is brand new.
Do you still sometimes pretend,
That I’m outside your gate?
That if you hurry down the staircase,
It won’t be too late?
Do you still sometimes cry,
When it begins to pour down rain?
Continue sowing poppies,
In your garden of shame?



Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 65 comments.


PandaDx BRONZE said...
on Mar. 27 2012 at 12:32 am
PandaDx BRONZE, Manila, Other
2 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Wisdom overpowers knowledge simply because wisdom kicks ass!" -Me

I enjoy mysterious pieces and you're really quite talented with putting words together that it plays a melody. I especially like the part:

"Do you still sometimes pretend,
That I’m outside your gate?
That if you hurry down the staircase,
It won’t be too late?"

It gives me the chills to my spine, which I don't feel quite often. I used to write somewhat mysterious pieces myself but have not found the inspiration to write like I've wrote before. Although this piece helped inspire me. 


Kinzi GOLD said...
on Feb. 11 2012 at 3:37 am
Kinzi GOLD, Cairo, Other
11 articles 0 photos 40 comments

Favorite Quote:
“There is some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for.” -J.R.R. Tolkien

“I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” -Mother Teresa

Wow. This poem has a lot of depth to it. I'm still figuring it out... And, as usual, great job! =D I'm really enjoying reading your poetry.

on Jan. 26 2012 at 6:28 pm
thetruthawaits94 SILVER, Duncan, Oklahoma
9 articles 0 photos 351 comments

Favorite Quote:
Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain.

Great poem! So dark and mysterious seeming. Wonderful job!

on Jan. 13 2012 at 3:57 pm
Tongue_Blep PLATINUM, ????, Ohio
40 articles 1 photo 769 comments
words, its really pretty. Great job and thank you for commenting on my story! (sorry that i did two comments, it cut me off!). :)(:

on Jan. 13 2012 at 3:56 pm
Tongue_Blep PLATINUM, ????, Ohio
40 articles 1 photo 769 comments
I'm sorry that I havent gotten to comment on your story! This was really good! I love the flow of w

on Dec. 28 2011 at 11:42 am
Pamplemousse SILVER, Gilbert, Arizona
7 articles 1 photo 69 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To be happy, Don't do whatever you like, Like whatever you do" -James Barrie (author of Peter Pan)

Eerily Beautiful and compelling. You definitely have talent! Keep up the good work

Hirschigirl said...
on Nov. 27 2011 at 11:50 am
Hirschigirl, Sandy, Utah
0 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
“Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but she did it backwards and in high heels.”

I'd like to hear you opinion on some of my work if you have the time :) love your poem!

on Nov. 27 2011 at 3:42 am
gilchresty GOLD, Juneau, Alaska
10 articles 1 photo 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Whats the point of growing up if you cant be childish sometimes"

Beautiful!

on Nov. 14 2011 at 8:16 pm
clumsyteardropper SILVER, Roslyn, Pennsylvania
8 articles 0 photos 87 comments

Favorite Quote:
"You can't help others, if you yourself need help" -my sister ;) love it!

OH. MY. GOODNESS.  that was like an awesome emotional roller coaster ride.  i love this style of writing (well, poetry, in this case).  very well done.  keep writing, I want to read more, i already read everything you've written! :)
oh, and could you check out this one thing i published thus far.  it's call "Iron Box".  rate and comment please :)

on Nov. 14 2011 at 2:07 pm
deleteddeletedFoff, Columbus, Ohio
0 articles 0 photos 53 comments
bravo. exactly how i feel about the friends i had who betrayed me. you have a knack for telling the truth, keep at it. bravo.

on Nov. 13 2011 at 8:41 pm
RedheadAtHeart ELITE, Mountain Home, Idaho
109 articles 0 photos 164 comments

Favorite Quote:
Love with open hands. - Madeleine L'Engle

Ohh...how beautiful...and sad...and terrifyingly true...

Superbly crafted. Excellent work.


Hirschigirl said...
on Nov. 12 2011 at 10:42 pm
Hirschigirl, Sandy, Utah
0 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
“Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but she did it backwards and in high heels.”

Wow! This poem is so powerful it gave me goosebumps. Love the rhyming, keep writing :)

on Nov. 11 2011 at 6:29 pm
gossimergrrl BRONZE, Grosse Ile, Michigan
3 articles 1 photo 24 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Hamlet: Oh God, I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams." -William Shakespeare

wow. just wow.

on Nov. 9 2011 at 3:49 pm
taintedannex GOLD, Hong Kong, Other
15 articles 5 photos 166 comments

Favorite Quote:
The truth is that at some point, everyone's going to hurt you. You just have to decide who's worth the pain.

Some say having something to lose is what makes you vulnerable. I believe that having something to lose only makes you stronger.

 Oh my goodness - I love this so much. Usually poems of love and imagery of flowers ends up being cliched and sappy, but this is such a wonderful take on it. I love the way the poem is written in a list of questions and still doesn't feel repetitive and get annoying, and I love even more the angle you decided to do it in. The imagery is all the more unique, powerful, and amazing in light of the death and darkness that is intertwined. <3

on Nov. 8 2011 at 4:38 pm
aurorairis SILVER, Darien, Connecticut
6 articles 0 photos 27 comments
Great job! I love the imagry here! Very powerful!!

JuneTaz said...
on Nov. 5 2011 at 11:06 am
Consider yurself a poetic perfectionist! Five stars, all the way.

on Nov. 3 2011 at 10:59 am
SophiaCross SILVER, Plattsburgh, New York
7 articles 3 photos 89 comments

Favorite Quote:
To love, to be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and vulgar disparity of the life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never to forget.”

I love this!!!

dancestar GOLD said...
on Nov. 2 2011 at 7:08 pm
dancestar GOLD, Westford, Massachusetts
13 articles 0 photos 127 comments

Favorite Quote:
BE WHO YOU WANNA BE NOT WHO OTHERS WANNA SEE!!!

tht was jst simply amazing...so descriptive..nd wow i wish i cld write like u..honestly jst speechless

irishlass317 said...
on Nov. 2 2011 at 5:07 pm
irishlass317, Jefferson City, Missouri
0 articles 0 photos 134 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I asked Jesus 'How much do you love me?' He answered 'This much.' And He streched out His arms and died."

I love this!!!!!!!!!! Very, very, very  good!!!!!!!!!!!

freyabean said...
on Nov. 2 2011 at 2:16 pm
freyabean, Russia, New York
0 articles 0 photos 15 comments

This is bitter and fabulous, it's smooth and flows beautifuly. 

Your poem is morose and sweet like dark chocolate- which is a good thing :)