This post belongs to the day I set out on my retreat. I hope you enjoy it.
This morning,
I, the haste-maker,
made slow;
took time
to empty my bag,
scour out fluff,
pins and pills,
tug out
the stiff black base,
caress it with a warmed cloth,
offer it to the sun
before packing anew.
Yet I took time
not to pack
the bag
tight,
but to place
things with care,
remembering to tuck in
pockets of space
And as I drove west,
before I knew it
a poem arrived,
like new seed
on the wind.
15 comments:
Hi Juliet - love crocosmia .. they always make me think of Cornwall - though they are everywhere in dark cranny nooks ... with green ferns waiting to scroll out ..
Wonderful words .. cheers Hilary
Such an evocative poem - would that we could all better choose 'slow' and 'space' at fitting times in our lives. Your posts are wonderful treasure to consider Juliet.
I hope you are starting to feel much revived. Here, the salute to winter's end has arrived with the first flowers on our broad beans turning up this week!
Thinking of you
Ruth
* Hilary, I didn't know the name of those red flowering bulbs: crocosmia, what an interesting word. They line the roadways here; nice to think of them in Cornwall too. I always learn something new from you.
* Ruth, thank you for your kind comments. Revival is slow, and that's OK. Broad beans, I do love them, but didn't grow any this year. I hope yours will grow well and give you many tasty meals.
Thank you, Hilary and Ruth.
I love that you tucked in space in your bag. A deliberate intention for what you were seeking....space to rest and be.
* Thank you Lynley, it's nice to have this feedback.
The retreat started while you were still at home, packing.
Splendid!
An example to emulate.
Friko, I didn't quite expect it to start so well in advance. That was a nice surprise. Thank you.
I love your poem and it reminded me of all the things I probably have lurking at the bottom of bags that need to be sorted. xx
Thanks Charlie. It's amazing what's there once you start looking!
"remembering to tuck in pockets of space"
Wonderful poem, Juliet, and I especially appreciated the tucking in of space. I need to do more of that, even in my everyday life.
I need to clean out my traveling bags. It's pretty sad when one is missing something, and knows to look in the carry-on bag. Sigh (and laughter). I hope your retreat was, still is, restorative for you.
Penny, I'm so glad you enjoyed the poem. I am still needing retreat time at home, and more pockets of space, but gradually I am feeling restored. Thank you.
'Making slow' and 'pockets of space' are wonderful concepts! Thank you!
Thank you Vicki, nice that you can appreciate these concepts.
Love your poem especially the last line "like new seed on the wind"
Marja, thank you. I'm glad you like the poem. It's always nice to hear what line strikes someone.
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