Thursday, May 26, 2022

Ordinary Charms

Gardening is the handiest excuse for being a philosopher. Nobody guesses, nobody accuses, nobody knows, but there you are, Plato in the peonies.
~Ray Bradbury


It's stressful, trying to figure out how to make necessary change happen. Spending time in nature is a good way to de-stress, and spending time with peonies (and peony poems) is A+


By The Peonies
by Czeslaw Milosz

The peonies bloom, white and pink.
And inside each, as in a fragrant bowl,
A swarm of tiny beetles have their conversation,
For the flower is given to them as their home.

Mother stands by the peony bed,
Reaches for one bloom, opens its petals,
And looks for a long time into peony lands,
Where one short instant equals a whole year.

Then lets the flower go. And what she thinks
She repeats aloud to the children and herself.
The wind sways the green leaves gently
And speckles of light flick across their faces.

The charms of the ordinariness soothe the threat of anxiety.

************

A Word Edgewise has the Poetry Friday round-up. Thanks, Linda!

9 comments:

KatApel - katswhiskers.wordpress.com said...

A lovely moment, Tabatha. If only you could step inside the peony...

Rose Cappelli said...

Peonies are one of my favorite flowers. Their fragrance always transports me to childhood and May processions at church. Oh, how I'd love to crawl inside one and be wrapped in comfort. Thank you!

Irene Latham said...

Who doesn't love peonies?! Fragile, hard to grow, so very beautiful...and did you know they can't bloom without the help of ANTS? More on this in one of my forthcoming books! xo

Janice Scully said...

I love that in peony lands "one short instant equals a whole year." It made me think of the meaning of beauty and time.

Carol Varsalona said...

Peonies are such gorgeous plants that bring joy. Thank you for the inspiration. I've been searching the Etsy site you shared and just love the beautiful work from Ukraine.

Patricia Franz said...

Yes, my hands sought solace in my vegetable garden this week. Therapeutic! BTW... LOVE the Ukrainian sheep!

Mary Lee said...

"The charms of the ordinariness soothe the threat of anxiety." BUT, they do not diminish our resolve to make change! (Love all your links!)

Heidi Mordhorst said...

Peonies, yes, and then also action. I clicked every link and will now go and do the tiny necessary that I can.

Bridget Magee said...

I'd pay more than a 'peony' for these thoughts, Tabatha! Thanks for the poem and the resources. :)