clearing

Blue warmth briefly breached the clouds so I took the chance to get into the garden. The slow and calm of tying in roses and the satisfying clip and pull of dead-heading made me hum out loud. That's a good sign. A precursor to the singing that will mark my full ascent to ground level. 

Buoyed by the pleasures of that outdoor tidy and trim I searched for a little something I could do in the house. Ignoring all the large, dull piles that are accumulating this week I settled instead on the smallest, and happily gathered all our recent beach finds into a jar for Joel. 

And so the morning passed until it was time for coffee. With biscuits of a kind I only eat on my own as I like to nibble away all the edge chocolate first in a way that seems unseemly in a grown-up. And a read through the new book I bought after taking Denise's counsel on my last post. The bracing blue against red made it irresistible and brought to mind summer and all things good.

I found more clear sky in Simic's words. The blue in the cloud, the light in the stone. Hope.

Stone 

[...]

I have seen sparks fly out

When two stones are rubbed,

So perhaps it is not dark inside after all;

Perhaps there is a moon shining

From somewhere, as though behind a hill - 

Just enough light to make out

The strange writings, the star charts

On the inner walls.

Charles Simic

Comments

[Denise | Chez Danisse]

I'm so happy to read this post. Hope. Yes. You handled things wonderfully and you've inspired me to seek out some Simic for myself.

[Rachael | The Slow-Cooked Sentence]

I'm glad you've had a blue sky day, and that you have a sky-blue book to carry you through until the next one arrives. I have read Simic's children's book "Supposing ..." but will seek out his poetry after what you have shared. Thank you.

[little house]

Denise and Rachael - Simic is one of those writers I have to dig through but unearth something wonderful at intervals. Thanks to both of you. Wishing blue skies for all of us this weekend x

[Debie]

I have to read his poems, too. I never heard of him before. Hmmm.. Anyway, I love how the shells are kept in a clear jar. It looks lovely :)

[Annie]

Oh this poem is wonderful "...perhaps it's not dark inside after all..." yes, perhaps it's not. I'm pleased you had some sun, and I like that you nibble away the edges of the biscuits - I do a similar thing which I find ridiculously satisfying. I hope you have a lovely weekend. Annie x

[little house]

Debie, it's worth taking a look through Simic. I like clear jar too and hope to rationalise some more of our many finds into them!

Annie, that nibbling - it is ridiculously satisfying! Glad to know I'm not alone :) That little line you quote is comforting - and we did have a lovely weekend. Hope you did too x

[The Coffee Lady]

I have a house full of poetry. Please don't encourage me to try to cram any more into it or it will burst.

You have a stovetop made of aluminium? Oh dear. I didn't get on with mine. I spent a lot of time boiling clean water through it and scrubbing it. Really? You need MY advice?

[Hila]

I see I'm going to have to buy some of his poetry now, after reading that. Sigh, and I made a promise not to buy more books this month ...

[little house]

CL, yes I do need your advice. And your cleaning assiduity. I tend to take the seasoning approach to coffee residue (you'll not want to come for coffee now will you?)

Hila, sometimes I linger in the poetry section of bookshops, reading for far too long just to avoid buying another book. Too often, after a couple of restless days I relent...

[katrina]

such a perfect day, i'd say. and a lovely poem too.

[Gracia]

Feeling inspired to seek a little of Simic's work to read... thank-you.

"Just enough light to make out

The strange writings, the star charts

On the inner walls."

Yes, most inspired and tempted.

[little house]

Katrina, it was a pretty good day :)

Gracia, those lines open out so much for me. I'm happy you find a little inspiration in them too.

[Beth]

"Blue warmth briefly breached the clouds so I took the chance to get into the garden..." any time in the garden is time well spent- as it grounds the mind and soothes ones spirit.

Thank you for the little reminder to take pleasure in the little things.

[little house]

Beth, you're right about the way that simply being in a garden - or space of green - grounds and soothes.