This one line: "My memories of our walks at that time will forever be colored shades of lilac and lavender."
Forever. Shaded. I teared up when I read that line and I stop to pause.
"Why do those two words particularly cause such a pause?"
Because Life moves on and memories are built around our senses, aren't they?
Every season brings its own sensory particulars.
And, seasons of our soul bring their own emotional particulars.
The season your describing had both. Being a new mom brought deep emotions, I imagine, if not a forest of emotions. I feel your emotional journey as you write about it here.
Some seasons of my own soul's journey are colored shades of grey, midnight blue, and raven black. Others are colored shades of yellow, burnt orange, and vibrant orchid.
Once again, you have painted a visual feast for us. I will be reflecting on this one question: What are the colored shades of my current season?
I, too, am a Poetry Unbound fan; and like you I head into the natural world for so many good things. And today your essay took me back to the season, long ago for me now, of new-motherhood and all the emotional wonder and turmoil of those early days. So thank you. Thank you.
“We can never have enough of nature. We must be refreshed by the sight of inexhaustible vigor, vast and titanic features, the sea-cost with its wrecks, the wilderness with its living and its decaying trees, the thunder-cloud, and the rain which lasts three weeks and produces freshets. We need to witness our own limits transgressed, and some life pasturing freely where we never wander.”
This poem and image are stunningly beautiful, evoking emotion. Both made me pause and look again, re-read. I look forward every Tuesday to Dandelion Seeds in my inbox. And Janell’s comment did the same…
And, seasons of our soul bring their own emotional particulars.” So true.
Thank you so much for injecting much needed soulfulness into my day, Candace! It’s a blessing.
🌲💜 I feel so much peace around trees. In my tai chi class we stand in front of a tree with our palms hovering over the bark so we can receive its energy. Your shared words convey energy like the trees. That last picture is amazing 💜
What a beautiful reflection and wondrous revelation, and grounded by a poem found at the right time. Thank you so much for sharing! It was lovely to read.
How magnificent! I'm so glad you stopped to photograph it. While I'm sure the camera diminished your reaction to the beauty before you, it will always remind you of that feeling of wonder. Thank you for sharing that moment with us.
I share all of those new-mom sentiments. I remember how challenging that first year was, especially navigating the personal boundaries in relationships with covid as a shadow.
Years before, I was living in Surrey, BC, and I finally began to slow down and really SEE the world around me. I was learning to be slow. I challenged myself to notice all the tiny, miniscule flowers and I would take photos of them and stop and see if they carried any aroma. I was reading Eckhart Tolle's Power of Now and repeating to myself: I AM. This was the spring of 2015, and my introduction to wisteria. Your story brought me back to that journey, though it seems many chapters ago in my own life.
Candace, this is so beautiful. Reading this here in Tokyo on Spring Equinox Day, with the flowers and blossoms adorning the city, is a special treat. Thank you!
Beautiful, I've always loved that poem. I love wisteria too (though it does have a habit of strangling everything else in the garden if you take your eye off it for half a second... I'm not sure what the metaphor is there 😂) 💜
This one line: "My memories of our walks at that time will forever be colored shades of lilac and lavender."
Forever. Shaded. I teared up when I read that line and I stop to pause.
"Why do those two words particularly cause such a pause?"
Because Life moves on and memories are built around our senses, aren't they?
Every season brings its own sensory particulars.
And, seasons of our soul bring their own emotional particulars.
The season your describing had both. Being a new mom brought deep emotions, I imagine, if not a forest of emotions. I feel your emotional journey as you write about it here.
Some seasons of my own soul's journey are colored shades of grey, midnight blue, and raven black. Others are colored shades of yellow, burnt orange, and vibrant orchid.
Once again, you have painted a visual feast for us. I will be reflecting on this one question: What are the colored shades of my current season?
Thank you, Beautiful Soul
We have much in common!
I, too, am a Poetry Unbound fan; and like you I head into the natural world for so many good things. And today your essay took me back to the season, long ago for me now, of new-motherhood and all the emotional wonder and turmoil of those early days. So thank you. Thank you.
That poem has long been one of my touchstones. I learned it by heart so I could share it with the trees on my walks. I'm so glad you love it, too.
“We can never have enough of nature. We must be refreshed by the sight of inexhaustible vigor, vast and titanic features, the sea-cost with its wrecks, the wilderness with its living and its decaying trees, the thunder-cloud, and the rain which lasts three weeks and produces freshets. We need to witness our own limits transgressed, and some life pasturing freely where we never wander.”
- Henry David Thoreau
This poem and image are stunningly beautiful, evoking emotion. Both made me pause and look again, re-read. I look forward every Tuesday to Dandelion Seeds in my inbox. And Janell’s comment did the same…
And, seasons of our soul bring their own emotional particulars.” So true.
Thank you so much for injecting much needed soulfulness into my day, Candace! It’s a blessing.
Such a beautiful piece & yes, it is everything
🌲💜 I feel so much peace around trees. In my tai chi class we stand in front of a tree with our palms hovering over the bark so we can receive its energy. Your shared words convey energy like the trees. That last picture is amazing 💜
So beautiful! Maybe that should be our greeting to/ wishes for one another: may the forest find you.
That poem is sublime 💕. Thank you for sharing it with us
As a mom of a ten month old who loves nature and taking her on pram rides, this resonated with me so much!
What a beautiful reflection and wondrous revelation, and grounded by a poem found at the right time. Thank you so much for sharing! It was lovely to read.
How magnificent! I'm so glad you stopped to photograph it. While I'm sure the camera diminished your reaction to the beauty before you, it will always remind you of that feeling of wonder. Thank you for sharing that moment with us.
I share all of those new-mom sentiments. I remember how challenging that first year was, especially navigating the personal boundaries in relationships with covid as a shadow.
Years before, I was living in Surrey, BC, and I finally began to slow down and really SEE the world around me. I was learning to be slow. I challenged myself to notice all the tiny, miniscule flowers and I would take photos of them and stop and see if they carried any aroma. I was reading Eckhart Tolle's Power of Now and repeating to myself: I AM. This was the spring of 2015, and my introduction to wisteria. Your story brought me back to that journey, though it seems many chapters ago in my own life.
Candace, this is so beautiful. Reading this here in Tokyo on Spring Equinox Day, with the flowers and blossoms adorning the city, is a special treat. Thank you!
“And just maybe, it was everything.” So beautiful. 💐🤍
Beautiful, I've always loved that poem. I love wisteria too (though it does have a habit of strangling everything else in the garden if you take your eye off it for half a second... I'm not sure what the metaphor is there 😂) 💜
That’s a beautiful image and poem ❤️