Rose

She held a child's face
within her precious hand,
passing love in a twinkle
of her diamond smile.
^^
Love the choice of words you have used to introduce us to this poem. The descriptions came alive when I read them and I love the gentle atmosphere you have composed!

I was an adult stranger
entering her home upon
a winter kiss, she granted
me love, in warmth of a
blanketed hug.
^^
I like how you have given us a background into the story and allowed us the reader to feel what you have went through and the feelings you feel. I especially liked entering her house like a winter kiss, very emotive and powerful!

A passing flower petal
has not withered,
but merely brings
a new birth of
sunshine.
^^
I like the way you have linked the poem of feelings and connected it to the way a flower grows. This link to nature is very symbolic which is a great technique for a poet to utilize in their poetry and the way you have embedded this flows quite well and is relevant to what you are describing in this poem. I also like how it links us back to the title and allows the reader to trace back to the title and unravel the underlying message and theme of this poem.

Her flower garden
shall grow forever,
because her soul
is as powerful as
her glorious
smile....
^^
A beautiful way to end such a beautiful touching poem!
I liked the way you have concluded to this poem and the imagery you have composed it made me smile at the end :)

5.5 from me

This is so very touching Maple. It shows the impact someone can have on you and your life, how they can reach into your heart and sew love into it, even though we do not know them all that well. It is great how you have captured her personality in this poem and shared it with us all. You also write about her memory living on throughout everyone who knew her.

Lovely poem. x

MT
You definitely put this in the right place. First read im like awww this is so beautiful then 2nd read I wanted to cry...your poetry is powerful...it can move mountains! Good luck in the contest!

How beautifully sad this is...sometimes it takes that smile to build us up, to brighten our spirits and the spirits of the frail can be so strong and an inspiration to us...

Lovely piece Andrea, sad but such a lovely message here.

Woow you have a way of playing with wards that leaves me dazzled. I think this is inspirational.
Let me remind you, after each winter comes spring thats when the flowers bloom, and become soooo beautiful;)

Awesome job as always^_^