This is done for today’s prompt at dVerse Poetics Pub – confession.
Hanakotoba 花言葉 – Language of flowers
You handed me the bouquet.
“I have a confession”
I looked at the flowers
in the bouquet
and heard the words
unspoken
but as you wanted me to hear them:
水仙) daffodil – respect
椿 camellias – yellow, white, red –
longing and love, eternity
赤い薔薇 red rose, passion
We stood in the gentle spring rain
I searched my mind for the words:
“春雨 しゅんう shun u”
you whispered.
I smiled.
“Already the rain smells differently.
A smell of growing things
instead of the sharp tang
of bareness.”
春雨 しゅんう shun u
gentle spring rain.
I held the bouquet close
to my face.
I kissed each flower
with the softness
of shy kisses on your face.
I have a confession to make.
And I handed the bouquet
back to you.
You smiled and reached for me
the bouquet between us.
Those days long ago,
long gone.
How could I ever
confess that day
to another?
bless me,
it has been a lifetime
since my last confession.
kanzen sakura 
Mar 10, 2015 @ 15:27:14
a lovely confession indeed!
Mar 10, 2015 @ 16:47:51
😊
Mar 10, 2015 @ 15:28:46
The language of flowers truly don’t need any words… love the way you hand back the flowers to reciprocate.. and yes maybe we confess to seldom 🙂
Mar 10, 2015 @ 16:47:04
Yes, we do confess too seldom. And still I held back on this confession…
Mar 10, 2015 @ 15:30:40
daffodils for respect – that is pretty cool how every flower has their specific meaning and how much they say without saying a word…
Mar 10, 2015 @ 16:46:20
Americans (and others) used to use the language of flowers to send a secret message to a lover or blatant message to a loved one or friend. The language of flowers is mostly forgotten here as well as in Japan. Used to be, in the old days, no one except royalty used the gold chrysanthemum or to denote social class on kimonos. The younger folks have gotten away from so many of the traditions. The flowers still speak even if we have forgotten the language.
Mar 10, 2015 @ 15:32:37
great picture, even greater poems 😀
Mar 10, 2015 @ 16:43:31
😊 thank you!
Mar 10, 2015 @ 17:27:42
You are welcome!
Mar 10, 2015 @ 15:46:40
smiles…what a cool intimate moment between you…
it was neat to see the characters and other language (other than English) blended in as that made it feel all the more personal….
Mar 10, 2015 @ 16:43:14
Smiling…but long ago. in a galaxy far far away.
Mar 10, 2015 @ 16:19:00
I was humming along ‘Saita, saita, turipu no hana ga…’ while reading this charming, intimate poem.
Mar 10, 2015 @ 16:41:16
And the last verse:
kaze ni yureru
chuurippu no hana ni
tobuyo tobuyo
choucho ga tobuyo
choucho to hana to
asonderu…
Not too many know this song! Pleasant memories of my last hanami in Hakone.
Mar 11, 2015 @ 01:35:06
I actually sang this song live on Fuji Terebi (by accident, during a sound check), so it brings back some embarrassing memories…
Mar 11, 2015 @ 11:59:07
Oh, it doesn’t sound embarrassing at all. It sounds like it was wonderful.
Mar 10, 2015 @ 16:19:28
here is a poem used to tell how you may confess without saying a word – BRILLIANT.
Absolutely adored this along with the other language peppered in
Mar 10, 2015 @ 16:42:06
Yes indeed and if you do the Japanese version of the language of flowers, you can sometimes confess without confessing!
Mar 10, 2015 @ 16:46:09
Oh, what a beautiful, beautiful moment! And what a beautiful confession…one worth remembering forever.
Mar 10, 2015 @ 16:47:28
and what a beautiful way to speak to others!
Mar 10, 2015 @ 17:24:22
I love what those flowers mean and signify, and yet what we meant to say or not say in another lifetime ~ I admire the use of the bouquet between us, unique and certainly can’t be shared with another ~ The weaving of Japanese language makes this a unique read ~
Mar 10, 2015 @ 18:30:47
I am glad you enjoyed…the secret language of love and flowers.
Mar 10, 2015 @ 17:32:50
This is so soft and sensual….and the ending is phenomenally romantic….just ties it all together as it tells the story of all that has happened between in such succinct sweetness. Glorious 🙂
Mar 10, 2015 @ 18:29:37
🙂 I Thank you so very much for your kindness.
Mar 10, 2015 @ 17:50:03
Beautiful. The secret language of flowers, the secret language of love – such a beautiful private moment you have painted with your gentle intimate words. In love and light Cheryle
Mar 10, 2015 @ 18:28:23
Thank you for your very kind and welcome words. Blessings.
Mar 10, 2015 @ 19:14:11
A beautiful glimpse of intimacy. Flowers are a language that we all understand; it’s sad that those specific meanings are dying out.
Mar 10, 2015 @ 19:50:14
Maybe we can bring them back?
Mar 10, 2015 @ 20:54:15
I love your approach…I’ve always found the language of flowers intriguing and your closing lines are poignant, too!
Mar 10, 2015 @ 20:59:30
Many of the meanings are similar but can vary across cultures. Some of the language is very old. I do wish we would revive this language.
Mar 10, 2015 @ 21:11:14
I think that it will come back…there’s enough interest in it…and as you say…it’s very old…I hope it will come back, too.
Mar 10, 2015 @ 22:06:44
We just have to learn to use it and spread it to others.
Mar 10, 2015 @ 21:54:57
Such a romantic and tender confession – love the language of flowers – really beautiful
Mar 10, 2015 @ 22:14:39
Soft. So soft: the movements, the words, the feelings. The tone is all whispers and words not spoken. This is s.t.u.n.n.i.n.g., Kanzen. I don’t do poetry, but this is awesome. ❤ ❤ ❤
Mar 10, 2015 @ 22:44:01
Ahh, but my dear Tess, you are a poet in your heart because you can feel it. Thank you.
Mar 11, 2015 @ 06:53:57
Maybe I am learning a little from you. ❤
Mar 11, 2015 @ 12:03:55
I think when it comes to a creative and poetic soul, you have nothing to learn…you already have it.
Mar 11, 2015 @ 14:29:28
I’m always learning something new. Accept the compliment, Kanzen. I thank you. ❤
Mar 11, 2015 @ 14:55:42
Thank you!
Mar 11, 2015 @ 15:54:31
You are more than welcome. ❤
Mar 10, 2015 @ 22:20:34
so much of communication is unspoken, tacit, I think you’ve really captured it.
Mar 10, 2015 @ 22:43:16
Thank you. and I truly love the language of flowers. today I gave my husband a daffodil and a red rose. he smiled hugely.
Mar 10, 2015 @ 22:49:23
lovely – those along with crocuses are my favorites
Mar 10, 2015 @ 22:50:43
Crocuses I think….croci? are so dear. Mine did not make an appearance and I am afraid the past two extremely hard cold winters took them. I miss their sweet little faces.
Mar 10, 2015 @ 22:21:35
Oh, Kanzen, those last lines… a piecing straight past any defenses.
Mar 10, 2015 @ 22:42:19
a straight thrust of the sword….and you know how I mean that….love is often like that.
Mar 11, 2015 @ 01:43:36
Was for me.
Mar 11, 2015 @ 12:05:06
🙂 ❤
Mar 11, 2015 @ 00:36:43
Gorgeous! I like how you connected the confession with the language of flowers 🙂
Mar 11, 2015 @ 12:08:09
Thank you! I am trying to get folks interested in using the language of flowers again! Such a gentle way to speak.
Mar 11, 2015 @ 13:40:22
When flowers sing more than colors poetry comes alive in nature.. as it always.. as it always is.. for NOW!..:)
Mar 11, 2015 @ 20:01:33
It is so lovely, and creative the way you combine the different languages in this.
Mar 11, 2015 @ 20:39:58
Thank you. I often do that because sometimes English doesn’t say it and sometimes, Japanese doesn’t. and sometimes, I like to add a different dimension.
Mar 12, 2015 @ 05:49:19
I have a friend who knows both English and Japanese. I will recommend this to her.
Mar 12, 2015 @ 01:33:07
Really beautiful and your words as soft as the petals they evoke. I have a Tussie Mussie book so I particularly enjoyed your take on the language of flowers!
Mar 12, 2015 @ 10:49:40
It is interesting, the various meanings of flowers in different countries. I went for the Japanese take on these because the lover who gave me this bouquet, years ago, is Japanese. But it seems red is consistent with passion, passionate love, love. I thank you for your kind words. My husband gave me a “knot bouquet” for Valentine’s made of various shades of purple/lavender flowers with…..one red rosebud standing out in the center! I loved it of course.
Mar 12, 2015 @ 07:06:52
Lovely capture.