Who wrote on those flowers?



Who wrote on those flowers?

What are those letters mother?
So daintily printed on each flower
Who writes them mother?
In such pretty lines of many a colour
 
Of wonderful happening in the moon lit wood
You do not know my dear little son
When wise sages preach, how to do good
By forest angels this writing is done
 
To flowers from where do colours come?
Such beautiful shades we have none
Mother, mother tell me how?
I cannot not follow anything now
 
When sun rises and when sun sets
Colourful clouds paint our sky
The dye from there, a flower gets
Such things son, happen on the sly
 
Mother, mother those little birds
Keep glancing at these words
Their excited chirp while speaking
Suggests they know the meaning
 
My sweet little son you are right
Bird songs give much delight
In different tunes what is said
Is recorded on each petal head
 
Flowers above and flowers below
And see little birds flying, galore
Why isn’t this observed every day?
Where do flowers and birds go-way?
 
During the life of our great sage
Nature’s beauty prevailed my son
Humans, animals and even foliage
All rejoiced together as one
 
Mother when I was saying my prayers
The great sage glanced down at flowers
Did you watch him calmly smiling?
As he recalls his past teaching
 

About this poem

This is in appreciation of my mother who showed me the way. Let us relive our own “mother and child” moment.

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Written on May 10, 2018

Submitted by jn.selvadurai on October 25, 2024

1:10 min read
52

Quick analysis:

Scheme AAAA BCBC XCDD EFEF GGHH IIJJ XXKK XCXC LLHH
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,236
Words 234
Stanzas 9
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

Niranjan Selvadurai

 · 1955 · Colombo

I am an Australian with Sri Lankan roots. Though I have had a life-long fascination for international poetry, I commenced writing poetry only about a decade ago. The sudden passing away of a dear childhood friend was the initial trigger. I find written expression involving rhyme, imagery, and symbolism a fulfilling experience. I write poetry both in English and in Sinhala. more…

All Niranjan Selvadurai poems | Niranjan Selvadurai Books

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1 Comment
  • susan.brumel
    What a beautiful way to remember your mom- with flowers and lovely birdsongs!
    LikeReply6 days ago
    • jn.selvadurai
      Thank you, my mother’s birthday was yesterday. Mother and child moments are universal and should be remembered.
      LikeReply 16 days ago

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"Who wrote on those flowers?" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 16 Jan. 2025. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/203801/who-wrote-on-those-flowers?>.

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