Ode to a Taoist Wildflower

About this poem

Here am I in attendance at a conference in Long Island, New York, at the New York State Association for Bilingual Education (NYSABE), reminiscing on my life and experiences as a bilingual educator, and exchanging greetings with colleagues, past and present; giving me opportunity to also sit, relax, meditate, and write poetry. And so it is I’ve come to share with you this poem and the story behind it. While recently reading and reacting to online commentaries on poetry.com, I came across one such commentary by a young artist bearing the interesting sobriquet of “Wildflower 888. ” In my curiosity and response to that catching poetic name used by the online commentator that came to my attention on March 11, 2023, I wrote the following message: “I like your Wildflower moniker, imagery of life and nature in its original form — like the Tao — not restraining of others, letting all bloom to their full potential.” This seven-stanza Cinquain, “Ode to a Taoist Wildflower,” is an elaboration of those initial sentiments, suggestive of the therapeutic benefits of the ‘opposites’ in nature working harmoniously together, unhindered by rivalries. more »