Wednesday, January 26, 2011

The Seasoning




Bare branches,
gnarled, athritic fingers,
reaching, groping,
which way out?
Out of the forest.
Out of the snarl of oak.
Out of the tangled confusion
(or intricate pattern)
or both.
All is revealed.
The trunk an aneurysm,
leaking into gray matter,
a textured nevus
on the sky’s skin.
An old tree.
A harsh winter.
But the blue jay
claiming
one barren limb
shrieks Spring.


My feeling today is to let the shrieking begin. Events of the past couple of weeks have brought too much winter to my (old tree) soul, and I'm ready for the chill winds of loss to blow a little warmer, or to shift entirely. Remember when Mary Poppins sailed into town on that bonnie breeze of change? *sigh* It was lovely. Too bad I'm not in charge of the timetable on grieving.

In the meantime, thanks for letting me vent here now and again. I think Shakespeare got it right:

Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak whispers the o'er-fraught heart and bids it break.

∞§∞

20 comments:

jen said...

Not yet! We're still loving the weather around here! Give us a little more time, please!

Wendy said...

Hopefully you will post this same tree in all its glory come spring, summer, or fall. Winter seems to be the rev-up for the spring sprint.

Renegades said...

Winter does get so long. It also doesn't help when it's dark so early.

Pretty picture though.

larainydays said...

Thanks for the poem and the Shakespeare quote, both are lovely.

Serene is my name, not my life! said...

You're allowed to vent!

And I'm all for summer coming tomorrow!!

Unknown said...

You are living in winter for sure. I hear that grieving is a lot like a season...more like the winter season. It howls, it shrieks, it moans, it's chilled to the bone. But I love that eventually it turns to spring...with the symbolism and timing of the Resurrection. I'm grateful for that.

I hope that you feel better soon. But winter (and grieving) sometimes last longer than expected.

Amy said...

Oh my goodness, that was beautiful! One of my favorites yet. And sometimes venting is just necessary for release. I hope your heart feels the lightness of Spring soon.

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

I'm in need of a 'sun' fix myself. Seems the older I get the longer the winters are. What's with that???

Enjoy your day and may it be richly blessed sweetie!!!

Diana said...

I hope you have a better and blessed day today. And thank you for dropping by my blog. Hope you'll visit again soon!

Lisa Loo said...

Someone once told me," Tears on the outside, fall on the ground and are washed away. Tears on the inside, fall on the heart and stay and stay and stay."

Sorry it's that kind of day but venting IS good....

Jocelyn Christensen said...

Blowing some positive winds of change your way...

Terra said...

Lovely poem, though sad - I am sorry your winter is taking its cold on mind body and spirit. I am a winter girl, the summer heat makes me melt. Hang in there!

Anonymous said...

I think the picture of the winter tree is beautiful. I don't like real cold weather but I am in no hurry for summer to arrive. Our spring seems to be very short here and most of the time we more or less go from winter to summer. The hot humid summers make me wish for winter. I am sorry that the winter has not been kind to you. Nice poem. Hugs

Darlene said...

Where do you come by those beauiful words? You don't get them from me. I just can't put them together like you do. I know you don't like me to brag about you, but darn it, I am so proud of your ability to express thoughts and emotions. At my stage of the game, I lose so many of my words that it worries me. I used to have such a great vocabulary. No more, I'm afraid. Anyway, I am proud of you and I loved the poem.

I am surprised (greatly) that you desire a little spring now. You are such a lover of winter. As for me,I will be ever so glad when I don't have to turn the furnace on at all. I am trying to get by with a little less heat by putting more clothes on. I do think it is healthier.

I also liked the picture a lot.

anitamombanita said...

Smile, my friend. I am sorry that you are feeling the burden of many things. In the scriptures it says over and over and over "and it came to pass"...thankfully, nowhere does it ever stay "and it came to stay"! This, too, shall pass.

hugs
anita

karen said...

Vent away. This too shall pass. I find with sadness or disappointment, the more I'm able to talk about it, the more normal it becomes, and the more bearable it is. And that's what your friends are for: to listen.

Jess said...

I agree with Karen, venting is good for the soul. And yes please on the whole spring thing- I'm so ready for flip flops again!

Grandma Honey said...

I can tell your heart is hurting. Vent some more. Get it out. Talking and writing is cleansing for the soul. It really is such a great healer.

Stef said...

Oh. But if it weren't for those wonderful bare limbs of yours, we wouldn't see the bird calling for Spring. Your wisdom and experience benefits us all. Even when they are discouraging. I for one am thankful for you blog!!

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Grieving is the worst until we stop and realize that we grieve in direct proportion to how much we loved.

And the mere fact that we loved is the of the greatest gives He gives.

One day the winds of change will start, slowly, almost imperceptibly. Until then, write, write, write....even if it's scribble notes and phrases.

Please remind me of this when my mom is gone. I'll need it. :)