Born deep in another Century --what did I feel and do? I'd wake and sleep In sun and night --in Light of other days, Like you, in what is real. I felt time take me Here, where we are In hope and dream. It does not seem so far.
Not far at all, is it? I can't quite wrap my head around it a lot of the time. And things are speeding up, too. When I think about the kerfuffle about the dawning of the new millenium and realize we are seventeen years past that now, it's a bit of a shock! Why, wasn't that just a year or two ago?
What a beautiful shot of the pansy with drops of moisture still on it. Pansies have such friendly little faces.
O_Jenny, thank you for the compliment, which I have relayed to Norma. And you are quite correct --it seems we are dealing with unwieldy amounts of time any more. Please don't let it confusticate --oops, that's a word Tolkien must've made up-- I mean confuse or condense memory to where it bothers our online present. I've grown fond of our correspondence.
Lovely pic of the purple pansy ... one of the hardiest plants to last long into fall ... but even they are gone now as Winter is here to stay for the next 5 months ... Happy Winter, friend Geo ... Love, cat.
I also meant to talk some more about the pansy, which is called "Stepmother" in my native language ... I don't know whether you know about the story behind this ... anyway ... wishing a good night, hmmm? ... Love, cat.
Ah, let's see: German - Stiefmütterchen (stepmother);Norwegian - stemorsblomst (stepmother's flower);and in my own ethnic origin, Portuguese - amor-perfeito (perfect lover). I'm not familiar with all the stories behind this intriguing nomenclature, but know pansies and other flowers (like the daisy --"she loves me, she loves me not, etc.") are well-established in folk-augury and fanciful rites of prediction.
"Stiefmütterchen" ... you got it, friend Geo ... look one back on one those plants ... she is sitting on 2 chairs, her daughters are sitting on each one chair and adopted daughter is sitting on no chair ... Pansies are cute, but carry a secret, friend Geo .. Love, cat
That is a lovely photo of a beautiful pansy. Your mediation verse captures the melancholy I feel as another winter approaches and another year retires.
The sweet pansy is always my first planting of spring and my last in the fall. They will stay hardy in early winter and may, at times, show some color if the temperatures rise above 50 degrees in February. They can’t, however, take the heat of Pennsylvania’s summers and fade away in late June. Their seeds, though, blow into the bushes and under trees and sprout out of sight in the coolness of the shade. How wonderful it is to find these and there is joy in knowing that even the most delicate of life will find a way to survive. Time may take away, but time always gives opportunities.
I remember summer in Penn., Arleen, in '64 when you, LBJ and I were within a few miles of each other. He kept his suit-jacket on, which impressed me greatly as I (a Californian!) was sweltering. Indeed, if your weather can offer survival to the defenseless pansy, there is hope the universe is pulling for us as well.
Yes, we are the human element and progress --hopefully in the right directions-- is our most important business (oh my, I think that was a '60s ad-line). But it defines civilization, and includes the disunity we must constantly resist.
Not far at all, is it? I can't quite wrap my head around it a lot of the time. And things are speeding up, too. When I think about the kerfuffle about the dawning of the new millenium and realize we are seventeen years past that now, it's a bit of a shock! Why, wasn't that just a year or two ago?
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful shot of the pansy with drops of moisture still on it. Pansies have such friendly little faces.
O_Jenny, thank you for the compliment, which I have relayed to Norma. And you are quite correct --it seems we are dealing with unwieldy amounts of time any more. Please don't let it confusticate --oops, that's a word Tolkien must've made up-- I mean confuse or condense memory to where it bothers our online present. I've grown fond of our correspondence.
DeleteLovely pic of the purple pansy ... one of the hardiest plants to last long into fall ... but even they are gone now as Winter is here to stay for the next 5 months ... Happy Winter, friend Geo ... Love, cat.
ReplyDeleteI also meant to talk some more about the pansy, which is called "Stepmother" in my native language ... I don't know whether you know about the story behind this ... anyway ... wishing a good night, hmmm? ... Love, cat.
DeleteAh, let's see: German - Stiefmütterchen (stepmother);Norwegian - stemorsblomst (stepmother's flower);and in my own ethnic origin, Portuguese - amor-perfeito (perfect lover). I'm not familiar with all the stories behind this intriguing nomenclature, but know pansies and other flowers (like the daisy --"she loves me, she loves me not, etc.") are well-established in folk-augury and fanciful rites of prediction.
Delete"Stiefmütterchen" ... you got it, friend Geo ... look one back on one those plants ... she is sitting on 2 chairs, her daughters are sitting on each one chair and adopted daughter is sitting on no chair ... Pansies are cute, but carry a secret, friend Geo .. Love, cat
DeleteThat is a lovely photo of a beautiful pansy. Your mediation verse captures the melancholy I feel as another winter approaches and another year retires.
ReplyDeleteYour compliment has reached the photographer, Tom. Thanks. And yes, I know that effect of winter nearing.
DeleteBeautiful pansy. I love the richness of the color, which seems to go with the richness of the meditation. Lovely poem.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Elizabeth. And you know Norma likes planting pansies, and Normaphotoing them. She's highly motivated and I just try to keep up.
DeleteThe sweet pansy is always my first planting of spring and my last in the fall. They will stay hardy in early winter and may, at times, show some color if the temperatures rise above 50 degrees in February. They can’t, however, take the heat of Pennsylvania’s summers and fade away in late June. Their seeds, though, blow into the bushes and under trees and sprout out of sight in the coolness of the shade. How wonderful it is to find these and there is joy in knowing that even the most delicate of life will find a way to survive. Time may take away, but time always gives opportunities.
ReplyDeleteout of sight in the coolness of the shade
I remember summer in Penn., Arleen, in '64 when you, LBJ and I were within a few miles of each other. He kept his suit-jacket on, which impressed me greatly as I (a Californian!) was sweltering. Indeed, if your weather can offer survival to the defenseless pansy, there is hope the universe is pulling for us as well.
DeleteI understand knowing time brought us here. All progress is but a bit of time and what we've made of it, for better or worse.
ReplyDeleteYes, we are the human element and progress --hopefully in the right directions-- is our most important business (oh my, I think that was a '60s ad-line). But it defines civilization, and includes the disunity we must constantly resist.
DeleteNot so far. :)
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Lux, not so far at all.
DeleteBeautiful photo and accompanying poem, Geo! I love lovely flowers and right now the only plant alive and growing in my yard is my holly bush.
ReplyDeleteIn flower language, Holly means protection and domestic happiness. I wish you both.
DeleteThank you, my friend. I wish you the same. :)
Delete