Poetry Break: “Let Me Tell You Where I’ve Been” – Ode to the Flowers of Fiji

During these Covid days of no travel, which I have great hopes will end very soon, I have taken great pleasure in the many memories my husband and I have of our travels around the globe. Of these memories, perhaps none stand out more than Fiji.
We went there for our honeymoon in 2015. We had toyed with many places to go for this special trip, even considering a train ride across Europe at one point. In the end, though, our eyes turned to the Fiji Islands. A place I had seen photos of often, that seemed like the perfect balance between nature and relaxation, mixed with exotic, tropical adventures. We did indeed receive both in ample measure at this gorgeous island nation.
One of the things I loved the most about Fiji was all the flowers. So many flowers, everywhere you look. As a big fan of flowers (you can view my flower photo album here), this was like a paradise for me. So, I thought you might enjoy a look at some of the beautiful flora of the Fiji islands, paired up with some rhyming verse. Enjoy!
Red – like my heart, beating hard inside my chest
Just like rubies and garnets, the bark in the redwood forest
The color of the poppies on so many graves from war
One of three on our banner that people gave their lives for
Orange – like the summer, like tigers, like sun
The color I see behind my eyes after an exhausting run
Like pumpkins, like fall, my favorite time of year
Orange is the color I think of when I need to feel some cheer
Yellow – like happiness, like smiles, like spring
Golden tulips, Dandelions, like the finches that sing
Memories from glorious playtime in the park as a child
Of daisies in the prairies, of so many walks in the wild
Green – the softness under my bare toes in the grass
When I lay under a shade tree in summer, waiting for time to pass
Green like a sparkling emerald, or the lime in my cocktail glass
Green like a lucky clover, or forests that grow in mass
Blue – it makes me feel calm, like night time, like sleep
Blue like the Pacific ocean, so beautiful, so deep
Blue reminds me of winter, of ice, of snow
Of the sky when the sun comes out, or tears when I’m feeling low
Pink – so sprightly, so cheerful, so sublime
The color of my cheeks when I kissed my husband for the first time
Or the candy hearts on Valentine’s Day, with their sayings so slick
Or the cotton candy I used to eat right off of a stick
Purple – So royal, so regal, so true
Especially the real deep kind that’s oh-so-close to blue
Purple like the violets, or grapes that make the wine
Seen on many dresses, on royal robes so fine
All the colors of the rainbow, the flowers of Fiji possess
They fill my heart with memories, they make me feel weightless
There’s nothing in the world like flowers to put a smile on my face
And there’s nothing like the Flowers of Fiji, that beautiful, magical place.
All photos by M.B. Henry – for more from Fiji, click here
And gather round, my dear friends, for I have BIG, BIG news. I have sold my first book! With the help of my fantastic agent Lindsay Guzzardo at Martin Literary, I have received a book deal with Crooked Lane/Alcove Press for my D-Day Novel, entitled “The Wartime Girls,” aiming for a 2022 release. I am so very pleased for the opportunity to share this book with the world. Stay tuned for updates as this situation develops!
Your poetry and pictures are a lovely mirror for each other. Congratulations on your book. I love WWII fiction and can’t wait to read it .
Thanks very much! I’m very excited (and also nervous sometimes!) to share the book with you and the world! I’m very glad you liked the poem and photos too 🙂 🙂 A nice Fiji respite 🙂
A book deal is awesome, congratulations!!! 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
Thank you very much! 🙂 I’m very excited about it!
I love color and the combination of your photos and the images conjured by your verse brightened my morning. And the book news is so exciting!
So glad you enjoyed it! Yes I am VERY excited about the book, hope to have more updates soon! 🙂
Congrats on the book deal! That’s fantastic!
Thank you so much! <3
Thanks for sharing the beautiful flowers of Fiji and congratulations on the book deal!!🙂
Many, many thanks 🙂 And I’m so glad you enjoyed the Fiji flowers!
Such beautiful flowers
So glad you like them 🙂
Beautiful photos with fun poetry, MB. And a big congratulations on your book. –Curt
Thanks so much! 🙂
I love your flower photos, especially the hibiscus. Huge congratulations on getting a book deal! Your post of poetry and flowers was like a bouquet. You deserve one for your accomplishment. 😁
Awww thank you so much! I never thought of it as a bouquet before what a cool concept! 🙂
Congratulations on the book deal, MB! Fantastic! As are your Fiji photos, accompanied by your heartfelt poetry.
Thanks so much Dave! I’m still having a hard time believing my book will be out there in the world soon haha. I’m also very glad you liked the Fiji flowers and poem 🙂
Congrats on the book deal. Looking forward to it.
Thanks! I hope it doesn’t disappoint! 🙂
It is a great achievement to have your book published, congratulations.
Thanks so much!
Congrats on your book deal, MB! Very exciting.
I loved seeing the flowers of Fiji and reading your poem to accompany them. Hopefully, you’ll be traveling again soon. 🙂
Yes, I would LOVE to travel again soon. I will be fully vaccinated by June 1 so hopefully we can at least work in a little trip this summer!
Wow, wow, wow! I was enjoying your flowers so much and then you break the huge news. I am so excited for you. Congratulations, MB. 😊👏
🙂 🙂 Thank you so much!!
GET OUT! A book deal??? So proud of you! This is such great news ❤️❤️❤️. And love the post in general…the pink section resonated with me the most 😀
🙂 🙂 🙂 That’s right! I can still hardly believe it myself haha. I’m glad you enjoyed the poem and flowers! I’ll keep everyone posted on how the book stuff comes along
Yes please!!!
Fine record of a memorable trip. Hearty congratulations on your book
Thanks so much Derrick! 🙂
Lovely flowers and poem, very excited for your book, don’t forget to post the links for buying it when it comes out!
Definitely! I’ll post lots of updates along the way too 🙂
Good! Look forward to them!
Awesome news!!! Congratulations on being published, M.B.!
Thank you very much! 🙂
Beautiful Pics and Congrats on the book deal!
Many many thanks 🙂
Great post! Loved the hibiscus pics!! Beautiful!!
Aren’t they gorgeous? So many hibiscus in Fiji! They had it everywhere and all the blooms were always huge!
Gorgeous poems abut gorgeous flowers!
So glad you liked it!
Beautiful photography and poetry. Congratulations on the book. Can’t wait to read it.
Thanks so much! 🙂 I’m very glad you enjoyed the pics and poem too
Congratulations M.B! What wonderful news!
I enjoyed your poetry and flowers. So lovely my friend.
Happy Week to you!
Thanks so much, I’m very glad you enjoyed it!
Fabulous photos and Great News on your book deal!
Such important stories you will tell!
Bravo! Onward.
Thank you so much! I’m very, very excited! 🙂
Wonderful! And congratulations!
How wonderful that you have the memories! I don’t think we’ll ever get that far. So I’ll just read this again when I need to.
🙂 🙂 Glad it can give you a glimpse of Fiji that you enjoy!
Lovely images and poetry M.B!!!
And congratulations to the impressive news! How exciting it must be for you!
Thanks so much! Yes, I am absolutely THRILLED with getting to share this book with the world
Understandable!! I wish you good luck!!
Love both the flowers and your accompanying poetry. M.B.
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed it
Beautiful! The flowers and the poem!
Glad you like it.
I’m thrilled to pieces for you. Given the quality of your writing here on your blog, I’m not at all surprised a publisher was ready to pick it up. It’s a gift to be able to turn history into a story, and you certainly have the gift.
Of course I love the flowers, too, and I thoroughly enjoyed the poetry. If you don’t know, your purple flower is Duranta. It’s planted quite a bit here, and it’s a gorgeous flower — like all the others!
I didn’t know that about the purple flower! Thanks so much for enlightening me 🙂 And thank you so much for your kind words about my blog and book deal. It gives me great joy to share history with others, and even greater joy when they like it! 🙂 🙂
This is such an uplifting post in so many ways – your trip, the island, the flowers, your poetry, and the announcement of a book deal! So very happy for you! Congratulations!
🙂 Thank you so much! I’m so glad that all of it boosted your spirits!
Thank YOU!
You are welcome! I did enjoy it!
Many, many congratulations on the book deal! This is a special year for you. Loved the poetry and beautiful blossoms of Fiji. K x
Thank you so much! 🙂 Yes it’s been a very special year indeed – a lot of big changes 🙂 I’m so glad you enjoyed the poem and photos
I wish you every happiness in this new stage of your life, MB. K x 😍
Thank you!! <3
Wow so many beautiful flowers!
💐🙂
So glad you enjoyed it!
so beautiful poetry and photos!
best regards from Italy
Thanks – glad you like it!
Congratulations M.B., that’s awesome news! 🤗
Many thanks! 🙂 I’m very excited!
Beautiful photo selections accompany with your eloquent poem. Congratulations on your book!
Thanks so much! 🙂
Love it all from Flowers to Sunsets. Tropical dreamy paradise . Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it!
Whee! CONGRATS on your upcoming book release. THAT IS COMPLETELY AWESOME! So pleased and thrilled. Plus, I know it will be a good read. I can’t wait to order a copy. Nicely done!
P.S. Such a beautiful collection of flowers. You’ve captured such vivid colours. Spring is a little hesitant in our corner of the world, so it’s wonderful to see such gorgeous blooms.
Yay! Thank you so much! Yes it should be coming out next spring so I’m very excited! I will definitely keep everyone posted here on where/when they can buy it. And I’m so glad you enjoyed the post and it brought you some spring beauty!
Congratulations on finding a publisher for you book – excellent news!
Thanks so much! I am VERY excited!! 🙂
Beautiful flower picture and poem. And CONGRATS on the book deal. What an accomplishment!
Thank you so much!! 🙂 I’m very excited for the book road ahead!
Congrats on the book deal, looks like this relocation is really working for you!
Thanks for sharing Fiji’s floral beauty in words and pics … what a lovely tropical paradise to honeymoon in 🙂
Thanks so much! 🙂 🙂 And yes it really was, we had a wonderful time.
pray our world opens for travel again one day 🙂
Thank you foor being you