Gifts
Even the bee is lazy when it rains
humming in her fitful dry hive-dance
while the hungry dust turns mud
and liquid silver rinses out her cups.
These clouds, so high, so wild,
These clouds, so high, so wild,
because they want to, come.
They play instruments of earth,
wind section, tree-cellos, stone drum
but make the music of a soul;
if we hear, it's not because we paid.
These gifts--each breath, each note
each bee, each yellow bell on fire
for ruby throat, each handful of bending blades--
outline the coast of a country never mapped
and like every gift that comes without a cost
or a desire, it stays unwrapped.
~August 2014
I will be offline for a while as various things in my life work themselves out. See you on the flipside of all that, and may all of you enjoy the gifts of summer.
Photo: Redbuds, Grey Sky, copyright joyannjones 2014
A new favorite, and a super sign-off poem, though will miss you during break and hope all well. All beautiful, but the line of bending blades catches my eye as I think of turning swords into ploughshares-- and leaves of grass. Beautiful poem and too bad we cannot give ourselves to what is given us. Have a wonderful break, and all best. k.
ReplyDeleteI love poems about the rain - I love summer rain and am waiting for the signs with impatience - what a list of gifts you have given the reader in:
ReplyDeleteThese gifts--each breath, each note
each bee, each yellow bell on fire
for ruby throat, each handful of bending blades--
outline the coast of a country never mapped...
Take care, Hedge.
Thanks for that last couplet especially. Hope things work out.
ReplyDeleteThis is incredibly beautiful. I especially love the wind playing the instruments of earth. Glorious writing, Hedge. My favorite of yours, I do believe. Take good care of yourself, kiddo!
ReplyDelete"each yellow bell on fire'...I love that.
ReplyDeletelove that middle section where you bring in the nature music...i am a beliver in it...and yeah, we did not pay...just the opposite it seems...hope all straightens out for you hedge...see you soon...smiles...
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely lovely.
ReplyDeleteK
fare thee well. you've left me to wonder, what was paid for this gift you've let us unwrap? ~
ReplyDeleteSuch plush bittersweet surrender in this, beyond fighting, allowing the venom to be its own perceptual balm. The seeing here as pure and loving as if all the years had not intervened. At such times of heart no wrapping is required, and to do so would only hide what should be plain to see. Hope you get your extravatic burdens resolved soon and we see you back into this fray. You're always missed.
ReplyDeleteMmm... lovely. The tree cello serenades my mind and its eye. Cheers!
ReplyDelete(G-Man slams his gavel on the desk with a loud THUD)
ReplyDeleteThis weeks meeting of The Blog Slackers is called to order,
Hedgewitch, read the minutes.....
hey stranger! I was about to send out a search party.
DeleteCheck in and let us know how its going when you get the chance!
ReplyDeleteHi, B--thanks for the concern--had the ultrasound and other medical annoyances yesterday, and the result is everything is okay--very relieved, but a lot of stress waiting to find out. I hope to be back writing soon.
DeleteWhew! Maybe all those sacrifices I offered up helped. Whatever the case, halleloo. Waiting sux.
DeleteThe smoke of burning republicans is always pleasing to the gods. ;_) Thanks and BTW, belated Happy Birthday, even if afa birthdays go, the thrill is gone.
Delete