Opal Reflections
Perspectives through Prose, Poetry and Photography
Lilies of the Valley
A sensation of relief wrapped him
Like a comforting blanket,
When he found remnants of the Lilies of the Valley,
Still growing wild by the house.
The man discovered the hidden, inner child.
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I wrote this response to Trifextra Challenge. Upon reading the beautifully written words, I chose to call upon a treasured childhood memory of my Father. We had a wild patch of Lilies of the Valley growing on the side of the house, and in a location that I could view from my bedroom window. More importantly though, I recall the many times my Father would share with me, his delight in the resurgence each year of the incredibly beautiful and indescribably fragrant tiny blossoms. I never fail to think of him when I inhale that scent. Hence, my offering this week.
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The Challenge: This weekend we are playing another type of word game with you. Below are photos from the 33rd page of one of our very favorite books, Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge. What we want you to do is to scour the page (click to enlarge), choose 33 words, and reshape those words into a piece of your own. Your piece does not have to tell an entire story. We just want to see what you can do with this particular word bank. Punctuation is up to you. Use whatever you need, whether or not it appears in the photos.
13 Comments on “Lilies of the Valley”
I'd appreciate your feedback (Please, leave a comment)!
Lighthouse in the Mist, Cape May, NJ
Bandit
Festive View from the Pub, Peddler’s Village – Lahaska, PA.
Home Sweet Home
Opal Reflections 
Beautiful!!!
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Thank you. It’s difficult using someone else’s words, but it was an interesting challenge.
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Love the sentiment here. Nicely rendered piece.
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Thanks. I was trying to extract something positive from a foreboding couple of pages. So I ignored entrails, rifles and such. Thanks for commenting.
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Lovely (and coherent, too)!
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Thank you, Kylie. I tried to make it so. I appreciate your comment. Thanks for taking the time.
Joanne
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i remember it so well as you do, under our bedroom window. oh those beautiful lillies of the valley, yet so short lived, as a spring lilac. i now have my ouw lillies od the valley, love them so , not so much for the flower but for the forever childhood memory also. we are so the same eileen
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Sisters and lifelong friend with so many shared moments. Yes, we are so the same. Love you!
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And now we both have the blessing and responsibility to tell your five grandaughters and my five grandsons, who we are and share our family history in a meaningful way, Someday, hopefully, they will share these stories and anecdotes with their children. Love you,
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I know this feeling! In a past residence I was always excited to see my tulps, lilies, and sunflowers come back (:
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Yes..very reassuring and hopeful. As this winter winds down, I am especially looking forward to the first crocus, the tulips, hyacinths, and of course the Lilies of the Valley.
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I love lilies of the valley, too. My mother always had them. Nice memory you gave light.
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Yes and for my Mom, it is the Gardenia, also super fragrant. When I pass by a gardenia in bloom it feels like Mom is saying “hi”. When they were courting, Dad would bring a single gardenia for Mom. I am thankful they shared these little stories with us… They become an important part of the fabric of our lives.
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