This morning I read a poem to my cat Buck. Here’s a piece of it:
FORESEEING
Middle age refers more
to landscape than to time:
it’s as if you’d reached
the top of a hill
and could see all the way
to the end of your life,
so you know without a doubt
that it has an end—
not that it will have,
but that it does have,
if only in outline—
so for the first time
you can see your life whole,
beginning and end not far
from where you stand,
the horizon in the distance—
the view makes you weep,
but it also has the beauty
of symmetry, like the earth
seen from space: you can’t help
but admire it from afar,
by Sharon Bryan
I took that poem with me outside. In my head I mean, not my hand. I looked at all the bright blooming things in my patio out back. The roses.
And this lone hibiscus. Unfurling last night in a quiet corner, while I was fast asleep.
It’s good to sit out here in the California sunshine. Drink ice tea AND coffee and record big thoughts in the journal.
My friend stopped in for a visit.
I stayed in my gown until 2. I did a load of laundry but forgot to put in the soap. Or did I? I did it again. That poem had me occupied and I don’t multi-task well.
It’s night now and the laundry is still damp. Since I left it hanging outside it might get damper before it dries. I don’t care. I’m leaving soon to go spend a few days in a cozy lovely cabin motel by the sea. Where I can walk the beach at night (in my nightgown if I want and tennis shoes!) Read my books in some sheltered cove and recite poems to sea gulls. If I want.
Ohmygosh, is your friend the bird a blue bird!! I see them on my walks in the foothills here in CO, would that I could have one visit my yard!!
don’t you love that hibiscus. and your tea table.
I love it when you go to a motel hotel cabin tent lean-to and think poetic things. you could always do a video, that’s nifty when you do. but then, there’s simplicity…
I’ve been busy. Time now for more Dispatch.
How lovely and timely for me…in 9 days I will be more than middle aged since I don’t plan on living into my hundreds. And I love the hope implied in the poem as well. Beautiful images, soulful words…thanks for a lovely end to my day! smooches
what a happy peaceful backyard!
You are a woman who really knows how to inhabit a day, and get the most out of it. I love how rich your life is and thank you for sharing pieces of it with us.
beautiful Mary Ann
and those flowers
in their rich regal hues
oh to come and play
over there
I will tell you tho
that over here
the moon and the pj’s
are friendly
quite…
xox – eb.
What an incredible inspiration. Your last words: “If I want”. I love that phrase and use it often. It is so freeing, especially since most of our time is not spend in pursuit of “If I want”, but rather “I have to….” After a week of state testing (TEXAS has lost its collective mind about testing, officially….) I’m definitely in the mood/need of “If I want” time. Hmmmm, do I sense playing hookie on the horizon….Me thinks so……… LOL.
Thanks for the poem and beautiful pictures of Moss Cottage. Love to you and yours.
I’m always amazed when someone else articulates exactly what has been living inside of me. I have often found that when you say here “You need to see this” something in my perception shifts. Thank you so much, Mary Ann.
Oh My, What a lovely post . I feel very inspired and a bit teared up. Thank you . It inspires me to start my creative day by getting out of bed( and off the computer) as I have a view ahead of me that I can see and it has a definite horizon line.
How oddly relevant – I’ve just cut a stencil of Jim pausing on an uphill stretch of hill walk… maybe you’ve just given me the theme of a page to go with it! Thank you.
Buck clearly enjoyed the poem too.
I’m not a huge fan of poetry but this poem really got to me.
Your words and photos make this such a beautiful post, and I think it’s great that you read to your cat. I hope your stay by the beach is restful and pleasant and that you come back to us with tons of new ideas and photos. Enjoy!!
So true. Most nights, when my head isn’t overflowing with colors and images of stencils, thoughts of those horizons are the thoughts that dominate.
Your seaside vacation sounds like the perfect plan, and your kitty looks very wise – must be from being read to…
Enjoy and relax. Hopefully there will be photos.
Mary Ann,
Thank you so much for sharing that poem and your thoughts. This post will resonate with everyone who reads it. Enjoy your much deserved holiday by the beach and savor the success you had with your first on-line class. It was a mega hit!
This weekend ‘The top of a hill’ reached me too, and here it is in words which highlight it again. Making me weep some more, and…
Your nest overthere is Beauty-Full.
Please give my Love to the Sea, the gulls, the coves.
Here’s to doing, being, as we truly want, eh.
xxx
What a beautiful poem. I felt the same way after my mom passed. I knew roughly how long my life span would be (she managed to beat the heart disease in her family and lived to 82.) I thought about the things I still wanted to accomplish….and I am working on the list.
Sheila J
How many members does your hibiscus family have now? You have shared this one before – is it Brown Sugar?
Wow! What a wonderful post. The colors in that hibiscus are breathtaking. I love seeing your cozy patio where you sit and ponder, and the paint station from where you showed us so many delights in the stencilry class. And once again, you introduced me to a poet I didn’t know was out there. I won’t be able to get this one out of my head all day either. Go Ms Moss, relax and enjoy more of your vacation time.
I don’t like a lot of poetry but I really enjoyed that one. I love that you read poetry to your cat and spend your day spell bound by the magic of words.
The hibiscus is beautiful.
I’ve just discovered your blog and i’m so glad.
Mary Ann I visit your blog regularly—a lurker to be truthful but today I feel compelled to make a comment.
This has to be the best blog post that I have ever read–straight from the heart-thought provoking and I can assure you that I won’t forget it in a hurry.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of your day.
hmm… that poem.. I have a feeling it will stay wth me as I move thorugh the rest of my day too.. thankyou.
WOW!!!