The Last Daylily – a poem by Diane Elayne Dees

The Last Daylily


The last daylily of the season
bloomed alone, a reminder
of both the beauty and fragility 
of every living thing. 
Its orpiment petals shone
through the curtains,
as if locked in an elegant dance
with the golden glow of the floor lamp,
which—bending toward the window—
paid homage to the sun.
Hemerocallis, “day beauty,”
survives drought, frost and disease,
yet each flower lasts only one day.
When the sun fades, 
it folds itself into submission 
to the rhizome’s destiny,
having completed its small role
in a life so much greater than 
the consciousness of blossoms.

Diane Elayne Dees is the author of the chapbook, Coronary Truth (Kelsay Books) and two forthcoming chapbooks. Diane also publishes Women Who Serve, a blog that delivers news and commentary on women’s professional tennis throughout the world. Her author blog is Diane Elayne Dees: Poet and Writer-at-Large.