“This being human is a guest house. Every morning is a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor...Welcome and entertain them all.
Treat each guest honorably. The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.” - Rumi
What a gift that you are able to see the beauty around you while caring for your wife and being able to accept what you need to do. You are a special soul.
Agreed. This is a blessing nature and the desire and ability to create a garden affords, moments of beauty and solace. Not everyone has them. Will's sharing them gives us those moments also.
You’ve got my number Will. Waiting for my “rustic” yard wildflowers to show up each year is a real treat! Another is joining the “We Rise Up” gang every Saturday at noon by the Civil War monument with our protest signs and deep concern about our nation’s direction with pain and hardship in store for so many.
Thank you Will for showing us that we can draw strength from the seemingly small things. Not small to the flowers or birds themselves! Do they consider anything as adversity? Or, as the Rumi quote implies, just accept all that comes as part of life. You are showing us the way.
Joni Mitchell: "...and we've got to get ourselves / Back to the garden..." / -thank you for this wise, well-written, grounding, and transporting column...
This is a poem, Will, how you move through your flowers and vegetables, through the spring and summer, how you move through your life, the external and internal seasons, seeing deeply, capturing beauty on all levels, and ending with the very beautiful poem by Carella on death, on life. In Spring I often quote the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins: "The earth shines out with the grandeur of God". He captures how we often don't see -- power and beauty--and ends: "And for all this, Nature is never spent, there lives the dearest freshness deep down things." You see, and you capture, your seasons. Thank you for your words and vision.
Hopkins is one of my favorite poets...his nature poems but also his "terrible sonnets" which capture his deep layers of depression. He never wanted his poems published--believed that as a priest, they were not really worthy--but fortunately his good friend Robert Bridges printed them after Hopkins died along with wonderful essays/letters about the expression of self, about our need to express our deepest self. I have a book of his letters if you would like to borrow. Interesting...I tried always to introduce him to students but most did not find him accessible. I loved how he played with language and sound to capture what is...it was always wonderful to read him aloud.....
And, as I said, Will, your love of poetry and of language is really evident in your movement of words, in capturing...in being an almost poem. Thank you very much for your Sunday words that traverse a huge terrain of emotions beautifully
Such a lovely column to SEE this morning with all of your beautiful pictures.....and a sunny day after the pouring rain yesterday. Moments that are just plain fine are hard to find but so good when they happen! Thank you, Will.
Thank you, Will. The birds, the flowers and even the weeds and the critters, all struggling to breathe freely, wordlessly remind us about what life is about for all of us too. Beautiful and bittersweet, as the poem you selected confirms.
My daily "walk abouts" around our wild "yd", never fail to bring joy. New blooms or butterflies, a hopping toad, or berries, and scents delight my senses. Hummingbirds are a bonus. Enjoy your moments in Eden.
“This being human is a guest house. Every morning is a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor...Welcome and entertain them all.
Treat each guest honorably. The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.” - Rumi
I like that
Me too!
Enjoy your garden in whatever form it takes. It is good therapy!
This brought many happy memories of my garden and my flowers. Thanks.
After all the gray and rain these pictures of nature's beauty is so refreshing. Thank you.
What a gift that you are able to see the beauty around you while caring for your wife and being able to accept what you need to do. You are a special soul.
Agreed. This is a blessing nature and the desire and ability to create a garden affords, moments of beauty and solace. Not everyone has them. Will's sharing them gives us those moments also.
You’ve got my number Will. Waiting for my “rustic” yard wildflowers to show up each year is a real treat! Another is joining the “We Rise Up” gang every Saturday at noon by the Civil War monument with our protest signs and deep concern about our nation’s direction with pain and hardship in store for so many.
Doing something is better than nothing
Life does indeed have plenty of beauty to offer. Thanks for sharing a slice of yours.
Thank you Will for showing us that we can draw strength from the seemingly small things. Not small to the flowers or birds themselves! Do they consider anything as adversity? Or, as the Rumi quote implies, just accept all that comes as part of life. You are showing us the way.
Joni Mitchell: "...and we've got to get ourselves / Back to the garden..." / -thank you for this wise, well-written, grounding, and transporting column...
This is a poem, Will, how you move through your flowers and vegetables, through the spring and summer, how you move through your life, the external and internal seasons, seeing deeply, capturing beauty on all levels, and ending with the very beautiful poem by Carella on death, on life. In Spring I often quote the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins: "The earth shines out with the grandeur of God". He captures how we often don't see -- power and beauty--and ends: "And for all this, Nature is never spent, there lives the dearest freshness deep down things." You see, and you capture, your seasons. Thank you for your words and vision.
I love Hopkins
Hopkins is one of my favorite poets...his nature poems but also his "terrible sonnets" which capture his deep layers of depression. He never wanted his poems published--believed that as a priest, they were not really worthy--but fortunately his good friend Robert Bridges printed them after Hopkins died along with wonderful essays/letters about the expression of self, about our need to express our deepest self. I have a book of his letters if you would like to borrow. Interesting...I tried always to introduce him to students but most did not find him accessible. I loved how he played with language and sound to capture what is...it was always wonderful to read him aloud.....
And, as I said, Will, your love of poetry and of language is really evident in your movement of words, in capturing...in being an almost poem. Thank you very much for your Sunday words that traverse a huge terrain of emotions beautifully
Thank you, Will. As difficult as it is, you help us see and keep a fresh and wholesome perspective on life.
Such a lovely column to SEE this morning with all of your beautiful pictures.....and a sunny day after the pouring rain yesterday. Moments that are just plain fine are hard to find but so good when they happen! Thank you, Will.
Thank you, Will. The birds, the flowers and even the weeds and the critters, all struggling to breathe freely, wordlessly remind us about what life is about for all of us too. Beautiful and bittersweet, as the poem you selected confirms.
My daily "walk abouts" around our wild "yd", never fail to bring joy. New blooms or butterflies, a hopping toad, or berries, and scents delight my senses. Hummingbirds are a bonus. Enjoy your moments in Eden.
Beautiful, thank you for sharing.
What a beautiful tour of your life and flowers. Thank you, Will!