Thursday, October 20, 2011

Blossom

As I walk the streets, I discover blossom abounding everywhere.
Blossoming branches are painting the sky like fluffy brushes.
Blossom is frothing out of bushes and on to the pavement
sending its fragrance into the air and attracting a myriad of bees
Like spring snow it covers every twig and branch in a riotous celebration of life
Joyful, abundant flowering wherever I go. 

Blossom. What a beautiful word. It goes back to Old English 'blostma' and seems to carry within it an explosion of life. I looked up some blossom poems, but the poets (John Donne, Shakespeare . . . ) see blossoms as an occasion to mourn the ephemeral nature of life. And so I offer this line from Hafiz, which reflects my blossom--pleasure more accurately:
The garden is breathing out the air of Paradise today (Hafiz)

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh these blossoms are 'paradise enow' me thinks, with Omar Khayyam. It seems strange after six weeks of Northern Autumn to be transported so suddenly into spring.

Juliet said...

What good timing Joan, for you to arrive ready for spring. It's so nice to have you back.

Anonymous said...

A most appropriate quote for such wonderful blossoms. I can almost smell them, Juliet. What a pleasure it is to watch your spring unfold on a gloomy, blustery day way up here.