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Genre: Poetry
Word Count: 100
Ah the warm smell of lilacs
Rising up in the air.
Daffodils, ever my favorite.
A feast for the eyes.
Flora and fauna.
Dandelion seeds delight children
Who blow them into the wind.
Goldenrod
Ragweed
A Mid-Summer-Night’s Bad Dream.
According to Dr. John Bostock in 1828
Neither bleeding nor purging
Alleviated
The itch of the eye,
Or running of the nose,
Or the incessant tickle in the throat.
That was then, this is now.
Antihistamines bring some relief.
In closing,
A word of advice, my fellow allergy sufferers,
Take care whilst driving.
It’s impossible to sneeze without shutting your eyes.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
I love your poem and the advice at the end ! 🥰😍
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Dear Sadie,
Glad you liked it. I don’t often write poems, but this subject seemed to call for one. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re most welcome
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It is impossible to sneeze without shutting your eyes, so pick your moment.
Nice, Rochelle.
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Dear Trish,
I do try to pick the moments to sneeze…preferably at stop lights. 😉 Thank you. And thank you for the lovely photo. It’s nothing to sneeze at.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Pollen allergy brought out in poetic form 🙂 Outstanding work!
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Thank you so much, Reena! 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You are welcome.
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The price for beauty?
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I suppose so, Neil.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So very true. As a life long sufferer, not only to pollen, I can endorse the sentiments with feeling. On the plus side… I do recommend anti histamines for a good night’s sleep. 😉
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Dear Sandra,
As I write I’m trying to wake up from my antihistamine fog. I did sleep well, though. 😉 This is the worst season I’ve experienced in some time. Fortunately I don’t suffer in the spring but come mid-August…achoo! The cruel irony here is that swimming in chlorinated pools can exacerbate the problem and we know I’m not giving that up. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes, I’m with you there. How unfair that some who adore nature, are cursed to be allergic to it too!
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Dear Iain,
So true! All these beautiful autumn flowers and I find myself longing for a good heavy freeze. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sorry – for weeks now I’ve had to fill in a details box and then log in for every single comment I make on everyone’s sites. I thought I’d fixed it today by clearing cache and cookies, but clearly I haven’t.
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So sorry, Sandra. I don’t know why WP has to make it so difficult.
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Good advice… lol, I enjoyed the poem of beautiful suffering. Luckily I am not hit very hard, but I think even without allergies everyone has some issues when the pollen is high.
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Dear Trent,
This year seems to be a more challenging one than I’ve had in a while. In my much younger days I suffered terribly in late summer and fall. Although I read that swimming in chlorinated pools exacerbates pollen allergies so I’ll just have to put up with it until the freeze. 😉 Thank you re my attempted poem.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very true about sneezing… and when you’re short like me and sneeze hard it’s almost a given to crack your head against the steering wheel. Hubby says that one day, I’m going to sneeze and release the airbag… I foresee the snot spray with that one. LOL!
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Dear Bear,
I feel ya. I’m short, too. 😉 This year seems to be particularly challenging pollen-wise.
Happy Birthday, my friend.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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yes, it has seemed so. I realized this week that I haven’t been out hiking once this year, due either to high pollen or rain. sigh. Shalom, Bear
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Well, that’s a different and delightful departure for you, Rochelle! I don’t remember seeing you wax poetical before–maybe I just missed it 🙂
It has been a VERY bad year for allergies here in my corner of PA. Today, however, the humidity is low, the skies are a heavenly blue, there’s a delicious breeze, the temp is only 63, and the pollen count is low. Ahhhh, Fall! i love Fall!
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Dear Linda,
I’ve waxed poetic on very rare occasions. 😉 Perhaps before you joined.
This has been the worst year for me in quite some time. I’m a big fan of all, too. Although this has me looking forward to a good heavy frost.
Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom and achoo!
Rochelle
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Terry finally–after over three years—got around to fixing the screen on our front door. Now we can let it stay open and enjoy the fresh air without worrying about bugs! I’m delighted!
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To the tune of “You look so good in love”:
Oh how we suffer, oh how we cry.
Pollen in the air, I wish I could die.
I feel for you M’Luv.
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Dear Jan,
We both wax poetic. Thanks heaps. Pass the Puffs, please, Longfellow. ❤
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Dear Rochelle,
I cannot say enough how happy I am to not suffer from this semi-annual assault.
Lovely poem, though 🙂
Shalom and lotsa symptom-free love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
You are one of the lucky ones. I am glad that I don’t suffer during the spring as some do. And I really haven’t had this kind of reaction for many moons. Why this year? Thank you re my poem. I’m never sure if my poetry works.
Shalom and lotsa itchy, sneezy hugs, (can’t help it 😉 )
Rochelle
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Right. I have friends who get nailed twice a year. Ugh…
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So do I. And my Dad suffered from both. At least I can safely breathe in the fragrances of spring.
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And those scents are so very lovely… think lilacs…
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💜💜💜
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🧡🧡🧡 (my favourite 😉 )
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Beautiful poem. Lovely
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Thank you, Vartika.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I might try a bit of bleeding or purging tomorrow. Something’s got to work! Although I’m relatively lucky, I don’t seem to mind the pollen. It’s the cats that get me. Particular the one who likes to lick my face when I’m asleep!
Feel better soon
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Dear Jen,
So sorry about the cat allergy. That’s an all-year-round issue I’m afraid. I’m not sure bleeding or purging will halp much. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Querida Rochelle,
Blessed am I to not have this issue but hubby does. I can relate through his discomfort.
Yes, some years are worse than others. I suppose nature is in charge of that. I hope it passes quickly for you.
Summer is ending and so is my out-of-state company. I should be back on track soon.
Abrazos y Carino,
Isadora 😎
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Querida Isadora,
I used to have it much worse than I do now so I shouldn’t whine. The itchy eyes are what really get me the worst. No eye makeup or contact lenses today. Thank you and my sympathies to Al.
Shalom y Cariño,
Rochelle
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Al is a sneezer when the allergies flare up. For some reason, it makes me laugh. I try my best not to do that. At least, it’s only in the Spring when flowers bloom. His eye MD told him to place a washcloth in warm water and place over his eyes to keep from scratching out his eyes. LOL It helps a bit. Hope it’s over soon … 💜 🍷🍷💜
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I liked how you started the story so pleasantly and then brought in the goldenrod and ragweed. Shivering when I think of the old time doctors/barbers draining blood to alleviate itchy eyes. Our future generations will shudder at what we’ve done in the name of “curing.”
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Dear Lisa,
There were some strange cures in the past to be sure. I’d say Benadryl is preferable to leeches. Thank you re my story. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you are very welcome.
Shalom,
Lisa
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You’re a poet and I didn’t know it! Reading through the comments has reminded me just how many suffer from the effects of pollen. When a sneeze creeps up on you whilst driving, try pressing your knees together, it works for some, including me!
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Dear Keith,
Thank you for the driving tip. I’ll try to remember that. Although that might be a challenge since I drive a standard transmission. 😉 Thank you re my poem. I wax poetic infrequently so feedback is much appreciated.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I like your choice of flowers to make the transition from beauty to misery. I like the hopeful conclusion too – that Benadryl helps – and the touch of humour.
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Dear Penny,
So happy to see you here. 😀 Thank you for your kind comments on my poetic attempt.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My daughter suffers from flower allergies, so I know beauty aside, those vibrant colors mean prolific pollen!
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Dear Clare,
My allergies kicked in when I was around nine. After that my school pictures taken at the beginning of the school year featured Rochelle the Puffy Eyed Wonder. 😉 I feel for your daughter. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear poetic pollen protestor, Rochelle,
As I read your poem, I wondered, “who puts goldenrod and ragweed in their poem?” Next line, “Oh. I get it.” LOL
The worst hereabouts is called Mountain Cedar (it’s really Ashe juniper) in Jan or Feb. I used to hike through thick yellow clouds of the pollen unaffected. Other times, I react to things one-and-done. But my wife is a long term sufferer of “nonallergic” rhinitis. She reacts to everything and must medicate year-round.
My sympathy to all allergy sufferers of what’s in the air today. I did not know about the pool thing. I would have thought the opposite. There’s nothing like a dose of pool water up the nose to cleanse the sinuses. 🙂
Wonderful poem. Made think of the “Ned Nostril” song by Ray Stevens. LOL.
Peace,
Bill
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Dear Bill,
I never heard Ned Nostril before. That was too funny! That’s a lotta schnozz. I have tears in my already watery eyes. 😉
My husband suffers from nonallergenic rhinitis as well. His is compliments of the burn pits in the Mideast when he served during Enduring Freedom. Although he doesn’t seem to react to pollen.
Glad you enjoyed my poem. Thank you for sharing Ned with me. Not sure how that went right under my nose. Nothing to sneeze at.
Shalom and achoo to you, too,
Rochelle
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Hey, Rochelle,
We have a family tradition, if you start, it’s a three-sneeze minimum to even qualify for semifinals. 🙂
Peace and gesundheit,
Bill
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Dear Rochelle,
Loved the poem and the advice. I used to suffer from allergies–itchy eyes, sneezing, the works. Don’t seem to have them anymore.
Shalom,
Adele
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Dear Adele,
In my teens and twenties my allergies were much worse. I took shots with no relief. Then in my late thirties, early forties they seemed to go away. Now they’re back and could be so much worse. Thank you re the poem and advice. )
Shalom,
Rochelle
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i guess we have to take the good with the bad. cheers! 🙂
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So true, Plaridel. But it doesn’t stop me from having a little pity party once in a while. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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“It’s impossible to sneeze without shutting your eyes.”
I never realised that before 🤔
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Dear Bernadette,
It’s true. I’ve put it to the test. However, I don’t advice testing it while driving. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Will keep that in mind 🙂
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Perfect! 🙂
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Thank you, Angela.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Pollen is a likely side effect. So much beauty to entice the eye and nose.
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Dear Oneta,
It’s so hard to appreciate the beauty when it makes you sneeze and itch. 😉 Nah, His creation is magnificent to behold. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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After a dry dusty Autumn when I clear up the leaves I have a burst of sneezing. Lovely and well written poem.
(I have been late as there is a new baby in the family)
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Dear James,
Congratulations on the new baby! How sweet.
Thank you re my poem. Keep tissues handy. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you. Yes, new baby Owen is a great distraction. He is such a contented little soul. (I am now a Grandpa).
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Oh this is great and so so true! Hayfever is the worst!
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Dear Laurie,
Sad but true. I’ve had hay fever since I was nine. I remember when it started. Claritin seems to be working for me this week. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m late getting to read everyone’s stories this week, but here I am 🙂 This is a lovely poem, Rochelle, 🙂 Spring is a beautiful time of the year, but oh the effects the change of seasons have on us! Nicely put into verse!
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Dear Fleur,
No worries. I’m late getting around to replying to everyone’s comments. 😉 Thank you for your kind and encouraging words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Fabulous!!! A mid-summer night’s bad dream. Perfect. I’ve lived it off and on for the past 50 years and I’m still trying to figure a way to keep my eyes open. When I’m not rubbing them!
Write on dear friend.
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Dear Bradley,
Glad I found out who commented. 😉 I’ve tried keeping my eyes open while sneeziing. It doesn’t work. And rubbing the itchy eyes is the worst. I actually was able to wear my contacts for a few hours today.
Thank you and shalom, my sweet friend,
Rochelle
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