See how the tasteful arrangements proclaim their permanence, dewless and untender as any furniture—yet very like: tulip, apple blossom, rose, lilies and delphinium, scentless and their careful petals dentless, something to be dusted and kept nice. My mother had a ball dress once, crimson silk poppies drowsy at the waist. Crushed and spoiled at last, they knew a kind of death, their artifice did not outlive her. So too the faded wedding wreath and Parma violet hat, unpretending ornaments that shared a part of her mortality— while these plastic beauties still will bloom while we decline, will meet our last…
Subscribe to get access to all online articles
Already a member?
Sign in to read this article
Digital Subscription
$98 / YR
Get the latest ideas from Australia’s most insightful writers.
- Digital Subscription includes
- Online editions of Quadrant Magazine
- Printed editions of Quadrant Magazine
- iPad ready PDF
- Access to Quadrant Archives
Printed & Digital Subscription
$118 / YR
For avid readers of leading ideas
from Australia’s brightest.
- Printed & Digital Subscription includes
- Online editions of Quadrant Magazine
- Printed editions of Quadrant Magazine
- iPad ready PDF
- Access to Quadrant Archives
- Quadrant Patron includes
- Online editions of Quadrant Magazine
- Printed editions of Quadrant Magazine
- iPad ready PDF
- Access to Quadrant Archives
- All new editions of Quadrant Books
- Exclusive invitations to Quadrant Dinners, book launches and events.
- Quadrant Patron includes
- Online editions of Quadrant Magazine
- Printed editions of Quadrant Magazine
- iPad ready PDF
- Access to Quadrant Archives
- All new editions of Quadrant Books
- Exclusive invitations to Quadrant Dinners, book launches and events.