Writing and Art

I am a member of Artelland which is a fabulous site for collage artist and writers (http://www.artellaland.com). Recently there was a challenge to research the meaning of flowers and then write something related to the meaning of a flower. Having completed several pieces that feature Iris' I wrote the following:

The late afternoon sun burned into his nut brown skin. The light breeze swirled the sand at every step as he wound his way past the Sphinx. The damp reed bag slung over his shoulder swayed with the motion of his body. When he reached her grave, he stood for a moment in silence. Slowly he lowered the bag to the ground and sank to his knees. A drop of sweat trickled down his cheek and splashed onto a jewel-like petal of the vilolet-blue iris peeking from the bag.

As the sun moved in the sky, merciless, he remained still, lost in grief and memories. The precious flowers he had so carefully carried here were his final link to her. He knew the etherial purple irises, when planted over her grave, would summon the Goddess to guide her, in death, on her journey.

Shadows grew around him and the dry desert wind became gentle as he took the first steps towards home. Cairo was a long way off, but his heart lifted as he remembered the royal iris, waving gently in the breeze as he left. Surely it was she, herself, bidding him a final, fond farewell, the Goddess standing by her side.