secret notebooks • wild pages: First Bloom

Saturday, May 29, 2010

First Bloom

Photographing the first peony flower of the year reminds me of both why I take photos and why I garden. And why I love these stolen days when I can be home "doing nothing."

12 comments:

moreidlethoughts said...: Ah! But this is not "nothing." This is a vital part of living. (And I miss peonies.); May 29, 2010 5:16 AM
sukipoet said...: I love love love peonies. note to self: when you find yr house plant peonies; May 29, 2010 7:11 AM
Anyes said...: Is by any chance "doing nothing" what you love the most? You sure are doing it right. Gorgeous photographs; May 29, 2010 7:56 AM
m. heart said...: Anyes, yes, exactly! Thanks.; May 29, 2010 8:56 AM
Karen L R said...: such a deep and lush color!

and one of my favorite quotes of all times...
"rest and laughter are the most spiritual and subversive acts of all."
-anne lamott

enjoy the weekend!; May 29, 2010 10:38 AM
Katherine said...: Peonies are one of my favorite flowers. I have spent most of my life living in an area where they do not grow. Peonies need a winter freeze. For the last 10 years I have lived with them and serious winters. It is somehow wonderful that Peonies reward us for making that passage. Lovely, sensitive photos M.; May 29, 2010 2:09 PM
Liza said...: Beautiful. You remind me that I need to go take a picture of my first rose of the season.; May 29, 2010 4:06 PM
Teri said...: Melanie--You take the most beautiful photographs of anyone that I know. Seriously! I am always so uplifted after a trip over to your blog. Thank you my friend, for taking the time to photograph, to write and to send your wonderful blog out to the "world". You are amazing!; May 29, 2010 6:00 PM
the wild magnolia said...: Stunning Deep Red Peony and photographs!

Enjoy your long weekend...the "do nothings" help us breath deep!

Happy Memorial Day and weekend.; May 29, 2010 6:41 PM
Bethany said...: Yes!
This reminds me of your amazing frog in the peonies photos, that took my breath away.

I don't have any peonies and it's a shame shame shame.

I've got one plant that I planted 2 years ago and it still hasn't bloomed, though I was hopeful this year until it just stopped growing.

Thanks for sharing yours.; May 30, 2010 9:25 AM
m. heart said...: Katherine, that's a good point about the peonies needing winter — I'll remind myself of that when the temperatures are dipping below zero! There really are benefits.

Teri, thanks. I'm not ignoring your email, btw, will write soon and fill you in on my very long (in a good way) weekend!; May 30, 2010 6:04 PM
Annotated Margins said...: You take beautiful photographs. I tried a few flower shots this weekend. Mine compared to yours are like a kid with crayons compared to Rubens.; June 1, 2010 2:47 AM

Meditation on Affliction

Assailed by afflictions, we discover dharma and find the way to liberation. Thank you, evil forces!

When sorrows invade the mind, we discover dharma and find lasting happiness. Thank you, sorrows!

Through harm caused by spirits we discover dharma and find fearlessness. Thank you, ghosts and demons!

Through people's hate we discover dharma and find benefits and happiness. Thank you, those who hate us!

Through cruel adversity, we discover dharma and find the unchanging way. Thank you, adversity!

Through being impelled to by others, we discover dharma and find the essential meaning. Thank you, all who drive us on!

We dedicate our merit to you all, to repay your kindness.

— Gyalwa Longchenpa

Who Says Words With My Mouth?

All day I think about it, then at night I say it.
Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing?
I have no idea.
My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that,
and I intend to end up there.

This drunkenness began in some other tavern.
When I get back around to that place,
I'll be completely sober. Meanwhile,
I'm like a bird from another continent, sitting in this aviary.
The day is coming when I fly off,
but who is it now in my ear who hears my voice?
Who says words with my mouth?

Who looks out with my eyes? What is the soul?
I cannot stop asking.
If I could taste one sip of an answer,
I could break out of this prison for drunks.
I didn't come here of my own accord, and I can't leave that way.
Whoever brought me here will have to take me home.

This poetry, I never know what I'm going to say.
I don't plan it.
When I'm outside the saying of it,
I get very quiet and rarely speak at all.

— Rumi

The Journey

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice--
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do--
determined to save
the only life you could save.

Mary Oliver

Saturday, May 29, 2010

First Bloom

12 comments:

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