Iris

My mother’s
Favorite flower
Was the blue iris
Long green leaves
Beautiful to behold
Though she was also
Fond of violets also blue
As was her small turquoise
Pipe with rhinestones which
She smoked at intermission
At plays to the gentle
Annoyance of my
Father who
Broke all
The rules of
Southern Illinois
Society in the 1930s
To marry her as he was
Baptist and she was Jewish.
They raised their six kids
As Presbyterian since
It had both guilt and
Jesus and the kids
Were many types
Of flowers and I
Muse on who
Was the iris
Violet rose
Sunflower
Though
I am pretty
Sure I was
The dandelion
Not the petunia.
What do you
Think dear
Blue iris?