Sampaguita

Egads! In the same, mad Wednesday rush that led to me to attempt to use nail polish remover as face moisturizer (mercifully, an unsuccessful attempt) I neglected to post. Now, in a misguided effort to remain punctual, I present you with a poem about the national flower of the Phillipines, where it's either yesterday or tomorrow. -Jackie

Sampaguita by Noel Horlanda

Perfumes starry night
wafts the air, florid scent
wraps round svelte neck
of a Lady’s knight

Moonless, moonlight tale
yet reflects its shadow lake
redolent smell spreads ov’r
bites evening mighty spell

Twilight shower bakes
early mornin’ dew atop
tiny white petals
looks like icing on cakes

Sweet scented floras
its caramel fragrance
sticks one’s sallow skin,
creates bright auroras

Teeny weenie fingers
sews mini whites together
soon digital strings on sight
hangs like bell ringers!

Early dawn comes
elate childish smiles,
vie to sell round churchyards
A few, a plenty welcomes

Lovely sampaguita, delightful
Adorable you may be
A lady in laces waiting
Gentlemen swarm undoubtful

Its freshness makes nostril flares
relieves stress for surely,
arrogant minds pacified
then tranquility bares

Infants, old timers, adolescents
round the elliptic bush, plucks
metal petal gathers copiously,
threaded together like fluorescents

Carved in various forms
bracelets, necklaces, lei
worn by a lovely dame
lookin’ out window’s dorm

Sampaguitas, flourish ev’r
immaculate white, eternal
A jewel in her own way,
as nite’s tempest, nev’r!

She’s pure and innocent,
Brilliant, incandescent