Mon Cheri, Berkeley, 2007
"More and more I see how true is the Hindu idea that a man may leave family and responsibilities and become a "holy" man, a wanderer, in old age, in order to complete himself - a time for laying aside all that has pulled the soul from nature, from pure contemplation." May Sarton ~ Journal of a Solitude
Lunch time comes around and I don't feel hungry. All I want is a break to run out and see you. I drive about 10 minutes to our meeting point. You're there already, as usual. You're always there for me. Today is another beautiful sunny day. The light here in Berkeley has been exquisite lately. I'm bringing my camera in hopes of striking a pic or two. I like how the light wraps around and accentuates your delicate features. I want to examine all your hues and shades carefully. I want to study the lines in your profile and their relationship to the sky. I want to capture your confident form and your effortless grace.
I arrive and promptly get on with my ritual of laying out my quilt on the ground and taking my shoes off. I like to feel the soft grass between my toes for a second (and giggle!) before I lay down next to you. Today I don't need to talk. Actually, we hardly ever need words anyway... I know you don't expect me to say a thing. When I'm with you, it's all about our comfortable silence and the gentle breeze brushing against us.
A couple of birds come up to you. I envy you for that. How do you do it? I wonder if you could teach me how to attract beauty and blend in with the natural world like that. I don't have much time, though. Soon I have to go back to the chores, the job tasks and the structure that keeps me from feeling open like this.
Another breath. The noise and confusion that infiltrate my day have melted away now. In this moment of quietness, poetry and nature... I am complete, I am enough.
A butterfly circles around you, flaps its orange wings and comes to land on my bag.
Tell me... Does that mean I am already making progress?
****
For more unnamed beautiful things... Go here!
Comments (18)
I say the answer is yes, yes, yes! What a beautiful image both through your words and your photograph. And what a confirmation from your friend the butterfly as she is the embodiemnt of transformation!
Posted by rubyslippers | March 2, 2007 3:16 PM
Posted on March 2, 2007 15:16
Very nice writing. I love the picture and it is clear what you are writing about. I also agree with rubyslippers.
Posted by Chris | March 2, 2007 3:19 PM
Posted on March 2, 2007 15:19
My meditation "guru"
is head of the Buddhist temple here in Vancouver -
he always felt he had a "calling" and when his
last (of 3) children
left for university he
went to the temple to live his life there and now
is the head monk so to speak.
He travels all over the world and is kind beyond
measure -
so wise ....
i profoundly am affected by
these 'calls' and learned
quite a bit from a wonderful
man about the Hindi
religion (and Muslim)
when I was in India.
Your post was warm and
thoughtful and
....made me smile at the
end!
hugs!
Posted by sophhie | March 2, 2007 3:44 PM
Posted on March 2, 2007 15:44
humph!
my url was all silly!
Posted by sophhie | March 2, 2007 3:45 PM
Posted on March 2, 2007 15:45
This is pure poetry, and evokes such seeking for unity with nature and the world that you know it's just around the corner.
Breathtakingly beautiful writing...
Posted by Becca | March 2, 2007 4:20 PM
Posted on March 2, 2007 16:20
I feel like you shared some of that peace with us. Thank you so much! I loved the quiet tone of the poem; it was as if I could feel or hear the wind.
Cool.
Posted by mary | March 2, 2007 5:06 PM
Posted on March 2, 2007 17:06
what a beautifully written post!
Posted by Marcos | March 2, 2007 5:28 PM
Posted on March 2, 2007 17:28
Deep breath...thank you. I needed that.
Posted by Stacie | March 2, 2007 9:07 PM
Posted on March 2, 2007 21:07
I love it that you can escape your busy day and find peace and quiet by this beautiful tree.
xx
Posted by Frida | March 3, 2007 12:55 AM
Posted on March 3, 2007 00:55
I, too, am in love with nature. You did a great job capturing the feeling.
Posted by Colorful Prose | March 3, 2007 8:09 AM
Posted on March 3, 2007 08:09
This was so beautiful, dear Alex- I felt like I was floating for most of it! I always think nature is attracted to the natural- and yes, I think you are making progress- in fact, I would say are already there!
xoxo
Posted by Regina Clare Jane | March 3, 2007 10:08 AM
Posted on March 3, 2007 10:08
How lovely. I can't tell you how much I need to capture some of that spirit right now. ~sigh.
Posted by Maryam in Marrakech | March 4, 2007 10:41 AM
Posted on March 4, 2007 10:41
Beautiful and peaceful. Lovely piece.
Posted by Crafty Green Poet | March 5, 2007 5:52 AM
Posted on March 5, 2007 05:52
beautiful words and this photo is too delicious...i am definitely ready for spring...
Posted by la vie en rose | March 5, 2007 12:13 PM
Posted on March 5, 2007 12:13
This post is like a deep breath of fresh air. Ahhhh! :) And you already have blooms on your side of the country?! I am soooooo jealous! Now I need to take a deep breath myself and BELIEVE that Spring will show up soon enough on the East Coast!
Posted by susanna | March 5, 2007 3:20 PM
Posted on March 5, 2007 15:20
Your beautifully-written (and beautifully-photographed) post reminds me of how much I miss Northern California and Berkeley. I think I have to plan a trip later this spring.
Posted by Paris Parfait | March 5, 2007 4:25 PM
Posted on March 5, 2007 16:25
lovely writing
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Posted on March 21, 2007 03:28
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