Word Painting: Wild Lily

Wild Lily

Far off any beaten trail, in the middle of a forest, there was a grove. Nestled neatly and surrounded by lush green trees of all kinds, there were broadleaf trees and trees with prickling needles. There were bushy ferns that boasted green leaves embellished with red tips. The grove itself was scattered with an assortment of wildflowers, which were a true beauty of their own. Then, there was a single wild lily. The point of the stem met the earth in a way that suggested this was hallowed ground—a sacred little square in the middle of the wilderness. The chartreuse stem, emboldened by the cyan-colored leaves, swayed gracefully, fully in tune with its environment. The bluish-green leaves seemed to support the petals perched above. Starting in a demanding deep burgundy, bleeding into a saturated violet, that faded into a soft lavender before finally flicking to white, the petals were home and protector to the bright yellow and orange stamen that reached out, desperate for companionship that would not come. A single sunbeam escaped the forest’s canopy, bathing the lone lily in golden light, as if the sun itself sought out that lily. A true sight to behold, a beautiful tragedy. For this lily was surrounded by the beauty and majesty of the forest. Yet, this lily was alone. At least it was beautiful.

-averagebenjamin