Thursday, May 17, 2012

A Small Bird Built A Nest In My Heart


A small bird
 built
A nest
In my heart
I saw her
carefully tugging
Prayer flag threads

I didn't see her carry
the dry twigs of despair
the brittle lichen of longing
instead she placed them secretly
knowing they would hold
what was
waiting to fly
from my heart


It is the season of earth's great generosity and abundance. The natural world is bursting with voluptuous Spring greenness, a colour so rich and vibrant that it tickles you from the inside. The maples, the lilacs and the green fingered pine trees.  And all the while in the garden, the weeds grow like -- weeds.

And as a human living in this divine explosion of energy I make some attempt, in my foolishness, to tame a small part of this world that grows up around my door. I pull weeds.  I use the weedeater and the lawn mower. I plant seeds in a garden whose clay soil is a better host to hardy, practiced weeds than to tender veggie seeds. In my grumbling and digging I realize my need to amend the soil. Tiny lights are lit from the candle of despair.

And so the list of tasks that rattle around in my head is also made abundant by this lush season. I am humbled by my role of lion tamer to the natural world. Each morning the overnight surges and spurts of growth greet me and ask me "who do you think you are?"

The deer browse hungrily, eyeing the trellis rose just out of reach, scratching the itch of their velvety antlers. Quail take a dust bath in hollows they have etched with their round bodies and crazy scratching. We watch them argue over whose turn it is in the prime spot under the bird feeder. Seven tiny ducklings swim under the willow that hangs into the pond. Their is always new snacks for the eyes.

I watch the feelings of delight at the sights of nature untamed and then am swamped by the sense of overwhelm that rises in an instant, feeding on my desire to manicure a small square of earth for the part of me that savours order and tidiness. It is a constant movement like the breeze that comes over the hill. My work is to delight in the coexistence of these two senses like a parent of children that like to argue a bit.

And how is it in your part of this lovely planet as it springs to life?

18 comments:

  1. Beautiful writing... and poem... You live in paradise :)

    "Tiny lights are lit from the candle of despair." Truly...

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  2. Thanks, Christine! It feels a bit like paradise right now!

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  3. THAT'S TERRIFIC, CAROLE...:-)...PAINTING...POEM...& PHOTO....XX (Thunderbolt Newman sang "IT"..you are "doing" "IT" !!! ...XX

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  4. Thanks for all the kind CAPS, Bernard! Many bows in your general direction.

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  5. Carole, the birds have planted some columbines where I never imagined,
    the squirrel knew just where to deposit the walnut, and the bunny has been pruning my hedges! Life is full and good.

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  6. It is fun and amazing to have these garden helpers! And hard to stay in the house on these wonderful sunny days. Wishing you a great long weekend with the garden and your yummy book!

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  7. So much sweetness in your poem, Carole...beautifully rendered! And your musings on the season are pure delight. I like this time of year, bursting with life and wonders. My own heart bursts along with it. The climate here doesn't always cooperate with gardeners, and after some many years of trying to wield a heavier hand than I ought, I'm letting things go... the veggie patch is going back to grass and only a small plot for culinary & medicinal herbs. I'm surprised how much I'm enjoying the letting it go--it feels pretty wild! :o) We're heading to the USA on Monday to visit my family for some days. Online time will be limited, but I hope to be around. ((HUGS))

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    1. I love your story of letting go of the garden! When I wander and see all there is to do, I dream that doing less of the taming would open up so much space. But for now I am trying to grow some food. It is possible in this climate but we don't have the heat for some things to flourish.

      Happy and safe travels. Enjoy family and friends and different spaces!

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  8. You write beautifully! So glad I found your blog!

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    1. Welcome Marie! I found your blog via Carole Reid. Thanks for coming by. I see you like Shaun McNiff's "Trust The Process", a favourite of mine. Happy gardening and painting.

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  9. My "ooo" button was pressed, when I saw the painting. And I see that Marie has already posted what I was thinking. Your writing is so beautiful! Ever thought of writing a book?

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    1. Thanks, Jann! Working with this puzzle of abstraction!.I love it but it eludes me mostly. You know I've collected some of my writings on the creative process together. Now just to do something with them!

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  10. Jann asked the same question I had and have for some time, a book? The poem so tender and your observations with your words, wonderful! xo

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    1. Thanks as always, Jeane! Book thoughts are brewing, but in a very unformed sort of way. I do love to write. Happy weekend!

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  11. Hi! It's been a bit since I have been over here visiting but I'm watching a friend's young son for her late tonight and the computer is available. I love your way with words and the fact that you feel the need to tame a patch of earth, like I do. I guess I like that organized chaos. I know I'll never get all the weeds under control but I just pull a few every day and that satisfies me. I think it is kind of a zen thing for me. A friend said to me yesterday that when she is tired, she goes out to her garden and waters and that rejuvenates her. I feel the same. There is something so vital about being around beautiful living things and something so satisfying about knowing I had a hand in helping them to flourish. They could have been somewhere "wild" but instead, they and I chose a different path. Teri (working the earth)

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  12. Hi Teri

    You express that so well, there is a satisfaction to the creating beauty in the great outdoors. It is a different kind of beauty than the wildness but it too is beauty. So yes you have nailed it. It is a delight to be outside, it is calming to pull the weeds and plan where this or that might go. Happy gardening to you too!

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  13. Wonderful poem and post...makes me think of my voracious pack o' squirrels living here on the grounds of Wren House...they sytematically 'collect' my prayer flags...carry them high up into the trees and pad their nests with them...absorbing the dharma as they snooze, I'm imagining.
    When the coastal storms come through, the nests will often blow down and I find prayer flags, like bits often of treasure, woven into the leaf litter as I rake up. Akways makes me smile.

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    1. What a great story "absorbing the dharma as they snooze", very auspicious!

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