In September and October, The Sigh Press partnered with the Stibbert Museum and the Angeli del Bello to hold a series of art-related events for children and adults in Stibbert Park; the Comune di Firenze also sponsored the initiative. Integral to each event was the backdrop of Stibbert Park: there was an art class for kids (“Make Your Own Coat of Arms”), an improv concert by musicians Francesco Ronchetti, Julian Spizz and Luigi Gagliardi where texts written by concert-goers in the Park were used as lyrics, and an afternoon of plein air painting and writing.

Below is a piece of “plein air writing” by Molly McIlwrath written that day, inspired by “The Language of Flowers”, a handwritten book celebrating the anniversary of a husband to his wife for their 50 year anniversary on the 8th August 1913.

The book begins with his poem to her:

“This is a language “little known”, lovers claim it as their own.
Its symbols smile upon the land,
wrought by nature’s wondrous hand;
And in their silent beauty speak,
Of life and joy, to those who seek
For Love Divine and sunny hours
In the language of the flowers.”

Butterfly Weed in the Night by Molly Mcllwrath.
///// A fragmented poem of thoughts and flowers/////

Butterfly weed let me go
away from the dark thoughts
in the night.

The Tuberose and its dangerous pleasures
wind their way into the Oriental Poppy’s silence
of Jasmine separation
and
Lavender distrust.

Now the pleasure and pain of the
Dog Rose is a fleeting thought
as three leaves fall beyond
our feet.

The unfortunate attachment of
Mourning Bride
and its dance
with the Honeysuckle’s bonds of Love
rests alongside another fallen leaf.

Where is the Oak Leaved Geranium
of true friendship as the thoughts
of Zinnias and those absent friends return?
The hopeful Hawthorne embraces
the Helenium’s tears because there are
no flowers in sight,
just
a lady bug with her
Enchanter’s Nightshade breath

Molly McIlwrath grew up in California, lives in Pistoia and works in Florence. Her undergraduate and graduate degrees are in Italian Literature, hence her love for poetry and Italian landscapes.