I originally posted this poem last June. It was inspired by a post from Laurel’s Reflections (there is more about that below, with a link to her original post), who I am thinking about today.
I am long gone
from that small coppice
where one man’s purpose
was all I had.
His saw, his scythe
cut through the clutter
to shed some light where
the ground was soft.
Fires were set
to burn away brash
and warm us at last
on such cold days.
We’d stop for lunch
and speak of nothing
except the birdsong
leaving winter.
He loved my hair
and constant silence
and woman’s promise
to stay for hope.
My hands, my heart
wanted to be his
working with nature’s
way of growing.
Clearing the way
for sunshine and rain
growing love not blame
from what was past.
Bluebells, bluebells
in sight and fragrance
I have come back since
just as he thought
I would.
Without darkness, Nothing comes to birth, As without light, Nothing flowers. May Sarton (American poet, novelist, and memoirist, 1912 – 1995)
I must acknowledge Laurel’s Reflections as the inspiration for this painting and poem, specifically her post of May 15, 2012, Bluebells and Other Delights where she shared some photographs taken on a family day out to Emmett’s Garden in Kent, UK. This post is dedicated to Laurel with wishes for her continued moving out of a tragic darkness into a flowering life.
Laurel has since moved back to South Africa where she and her lovely family are thankfully thriving.
This time around, I will add this wonderful YouTube clip I found: ‘Sea of Bluebells – Jenkinstown, Kilkenny early May 2013’. When I lived in England -in Wroxton, Oxfordshire – there was a coppice on the Abbey grounds (which I helped to clean up to bring in more light), and besides the blur of purple-blue, I recall the subtle but permeating hyacinth-scent …
©Artwork and writing, unless otherwise indicated, are the property of Diane M Denton. Please request permission to reproduce or post elsewhere with a link back to bardessdmdenton. Thank you.
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What a wonderful tribute to Laurel!
I especially like these words from your poem:
“Clearing the way
for sunshine and rain
growing love not blame
from what was past.”
Wonderful!!
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Thank you again, Fergie! I am so glad you like that verse – sometimes the poetic phrases just fall into place to express what one wants to. Blessings! XO
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Lovely and yet I sense the fragile underpinnings of nature and relationships.
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Thank you! Lovely comment. Yes, our relationships are after all a part of the rhythm of nature.
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Your talent knows no ends! Such grace and beauty in all your work.
My thanks, also, to Laurel for inspiring you to these heights. Beautiful work!
Sarah
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Thank you so much, Sarah! You inspire me constantly. That is how it works with true creativity, isn’t it?
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What delightful flowers – I hope I get to see a bluebell wood some day! Thanks for sharing your wonderful poem and the video and the dedication to Laurel, dreaming of bluebells today…
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Hi, Barbara! Yes, there is nothing like coming upon a bluebell wood … it’s almost indistinct, like a mist of sweetly scented blue. My first ‘experience’ of one was in the movie “Ryan’s Daughter’ – there is a love scene (albeit an illicit one) in a bluebell wood. Not only seeing one ‘in person’ but helping to encourage it was a very special time for me.
Hope your bluebell dreams … all your dreams … are beautiful and special. XO
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Healing blue Xxxx
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Yes, absolutely, Jane! Blessings. XO
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Beautiful post all around, Diane…sending you much love and hugs for a lovely weekend! xoxo
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Thank you, Lauren! Hope your weekend was lovely. Have a wonderful week. XO ♥
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Oh, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are so amazingly inspiring, I am so deeply grateful for your friendship and support xxx
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You are so so welcome, Laurel. I am so glad you are blogging, again – I am grateful for your friendship and support! I hope you are enjoying the novel … I know you have had a crazy busy start to the year … but looking forward to your impressions. XO ♥
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I love Laurels Reflections, and I’m really pleased she has started to do a bit of \blogging again and I also love your words and drawings. They always remind me a bit of Beatrice Potter
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Hi, Peter. I am so glad Laurel is back, too! She was one of my first followers and drew me into her heartfelt reflections immediately.
And – Beatrice Potter – what a compliment. I hope I can continue to create to such a level of blending imagination and reality! Blessings.
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Beautiful poem, Diane. I don’t know why but I find this verse really beautiful and so, so true…
‘Clearing the way
for sunshine and rain
growing love not blame
from what was past.’
The bluebells are lovely!
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Hi, Marie. Thank you and I am glad you enjoyed that verse, especially.
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Diane this is beautiful. I haven’t read it beore. Last June I had a big MS flare up of optic neuritis so that will be why I missed it. I am so pleased you have posted it because it resonates so loudly for me. Your “novel voice” permeates the poem and I can even see Donatella amongst the bluebells with a touch of lace on her cuffs and around her neck. 🙂
And what a lovely tribute for Laurel at this difficult time. Im sure she will love this post, and the fact that she inspired you! The painting is gorgeous; bluebells are indeed very modest flowers.
Love the quote and the You Tube video is gorgeous.
Lots of love and many blessings
Christine ❤ xxxx
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Hi, Christine – as you didn’t see this one, I am SO glad I reposted! I love it that you catch my ‘novel voice’ here.
I have always loved bluebells … they have this fragil resilence about them, much like a willow tree. They always make me think of the lovers bluebell wood scene from Ryan’s Daughter … I tried to find a clip but couldn’t.
Love always, and hugs, hugs, hugs! ♥
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I remember this poem, Diane. It makes me feel happy just the way it did the first time I read it. Just wonderful.
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Hi, Thomas – thank you so much. It makes me happy to know it offered a little brightness. Blessings, Diane
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Sweet. Sweet.
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Thank you, Kathryn!
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Beautiful 🙂 Lovely poem and artwork, and inspiration 🙂 xx
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Thank you so much, Ina! 🙂 XO
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Oh isn’t this Wonderful! Really stirs me to write more more more…
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Thank you, Caddo (rather belatedly). And if it ‘stirs you to write more …’ I am delighted! XO
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soooo much beautiful blue!
lovely
right now at our farm it is the yellow dandelion buttons!
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Thank you! Dandelions … ah …
I come to the dandy
so tall and smiling
with all his teeth
as though he never thinks
he might be unwelcomed;
even when
he’s gone to seed
and tells us
the time
he’s probably lying.
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