We're still shivering here in Ohio ... we keep looking at our calendars for reassurance that ... yes, Virginia ... it is springtime. We're looking forward to some real spring-like weather ... one of my favorites.
We know, though, that there's summer weather lurking somewhere down the line.
Oh, what an option air-conditioning would be then at Brimm Manor! Ah, but we find ways of "borrowing" air-conditioning during the day ... on the bus ... at the mall ... sometimes at a movie. And at night the fans work overtime while we sleep.
Sometimes I try to nestle into a bed of cooling thoughts ... about winter ... about autumn (one of my all-time favorites) ... and ... yes, spring.
Spring brings to mind the struggling little dogwood that stands on the front lawn of Brimm Manor ... near the sloping driveway where The Little Red Car comes and goes ... on its various adventures.
Twice a year the little dogwood gives us a magnificent show ... particularly in the spring ... with its remarkable show of blossoms ... but again in the fall, too ... with its fiery red foliage.
I think today's poem pretty well tells its own story (and if you discover one of my "sermons" in it, well, so be it):
BEHOLD, THE DOGWOOD
Poor, struggling,
glorious little dogwood,
you have survived
drought and freezing,
even neglect, and yet
this year you bestow
an abundance of blossoms,
you teacher of lessons.
©
1996(originally published in Capper's)
***
Today's word: teacher
Afterthoughts ... in response to your comments:
You've started my day off with a chuckle, Marti, and I love it! I can just see someone sitting on the porch, enjoying a breeze, the warmth, the quiet ... and looking down to see something twining itself around his/her ankle ... and growing!
Yes, Helen, those blossoming magnolias are always a wonderful "surprise" up here in the cold north ... and you mention the violets, redbud, daffodils (they're doing their best to blossom now, even under the lingering cold) and tulips ... they do provide a symphony of shapes and colors ... reassurance that, yes, another season is upon us. But right now we're looking at our calendars for reassurance of that fact. Thank you, though, for that "trip back" to where you grew up. I was particularly pleased to learn that autumn was your mother's favorite season.
2 comments:
it is glorious here.I send people pictures and they say"oh, you must work all the time in your garden"and they can't believe it when I tell them if you sit on the porch too long, something will wrap around your ankle and grow!
Marti
Looking back where ther'es a dormant season...we know the magnolias et al, will come out eventually, but when they do it's a wonderful "surprise". What a thrill that is...along with the violets, redbud, daffodils, tulips, and all that comes up ready to from the ground ready to show their blooms. We have flowers blooming in the Miami region all year round, but nothing is as much a thrill here...delightful, yes, but not like the spring blooms.
You also mentioned fall as a lovely time...my mother always
said it was her favorite season...but if you don't live in the moment and think about the season that follows you ruin the the wonderful enjoyment of fall. It is a wonderful season, indeed...but there's nothing like the thrill of spring flowers, and I miss them. Your poem brings a warm feeling back.
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