Gardens and flowers
Lie within funeral bowers.
Roots and twigs
Vine their way deep
Into maggot brain earth.
Never does nature weep
For that which fertilzes,
Even when dark things creep,
And the nightcrawler terrorizes
In this grotesque garden of surprises.
© 2025 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.
First published on tristanrobertlange.com, January 21, 2026.
Tittu
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Author:
Tristan Robert Lange (
Offline) - Published: January 21st, 2026 08:43
- Comment from author about the poem: I’m published in an anthology featuring authors from across the Poconos, PA. All proceeds benefit the Pocono Liars Club — a collective of authors and editors dedicated to supporting and mentoring local writers. Available in paperback and Kindle, please consider purchasing one and supporting a great cause. https://a.co/d/58uxM69
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 20
- Users favorite of this poem: Friendship, Dominic Windram
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Comments6
It's certainly a grotesque garden if one hears a certain glugging sound. I understand one can hear it 23 hours 59 minutes of every day, because it's ...... don't finish that! lol.
Haha…leave it to you, Orchi, to hear the subterranean soundtrack. Once you’ve tuned into it, it really does…um…glug almost all the time. But why? Don’t you know I won’t answer that? 🤪🤣 🌿🕯️🪱
It is all beauty in its own way and place. That, that grows springs from that, that rots. From petrification there is new life liberation. A most interesting poem Tristan Your first two lines caught my attention and felt so poetic in their unexpected contrast and beauty.
Soren, I love how you framed it as liberation through petrification. That idea of growth springing directly from rot is the spine of the piece. And I’m glad the first two lines caught you…they’re the threshold before the descent. Much appreciated my friend. 🌿🕯️🪱🙏
You are most welcome Tristan
Well said. The poet explores themes of mortality, the grotesque aspects of life, and the transformative power of nature. It suggests that even in death, life continues through decay, as the elements of nature—like roots and twigs—persist and intertwine.
Friendship, I really appreciate you focusing on the intertwining of roots and twigs. That persistence of nature is where the poem breathes, even as it stays grotesque. You caught that movement well. Thank you for reading it closely. 🌿🕯️🪱🙏
Okay I'm not having roots disturbing my death nap, bad enough in life people chapping your door selling you death insurance.
Quite fancy getting dumped in space floating for all eternity. Maybe start a business plan here.
Paul, haha…this gave me a proper laugh. Even in a poem about rot and soil, you found the cosmic escape hatch. Floating forever does sound blissfully interruption-free. Thanks for bringing that levity in. 🌿🕯️🪱🙏
It felt like turning life on its head, us living with contradictions and paradoxes. But that’s probably just my at times neurodivergent way of thinking 🤔🙏🏻🕊️
arqios, I relate strongly to this. My neurodivergent brain works similarly, where paradox feels natural and even clarifying. Reading your reflection felt like recognizing a familiar way of seeing the world. I appreciate you sharing that. 🌿🕯️🪱🙏
This is a truly haunting poem abounding with vivid imagery....definitely worthy of a fave!
Thank you so much, Dominic! Much appreciated, my friend! 🌿🕯️🪱🙏
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