a pause in the hurriedness of our day
to be present to our feelings
to notice the peach blossoms that are opening in the backyard
to pay attention to how, several months later,
the peach tree is now bursting with fruit
we stop and pause
to notice when the citrus blossoms open and
just as before,
the tree delivers more fruit than we can use
and we put out the sign for neighbors to please help themselves
as we are working on helping ourselves
and when we’ve been away from home and return,
we wonder when our heart will mend
and once again,
the blossoms have become fruit
and the passionfruit will nourish us
the gooeyness, the tart and the sweet
at these moments, when life has deepened from profound loss
the fruit continues to shower me with gifts
with the opportunity to notice the subtle
and I remember the summer where we grew only one watermelon
during the first week of summer
in this bittersweet, beautiful world
-carolyn
💗💗💗
thank you, Lucy!
Oh Carolyn, so many of us are feeling your profound loss but the beauty of your words and pictures allow the tears to flow and cleanse the soul.
Thank you dear Barb. Apologies for the late response. I will miss my mom every day for the rest of my life. She adored you and I’m so happy you had the friendship you did.
Your mom was so encouraging to me and truly believed in me before I believed in myself. I am eternally grateful! But that’s how she was with everyone! I learned so much from her well beyond “dress and identity.” Sending loving thoughts to all of you.
This is beautiful. Your poetry is grounding and calming and insightful.
Dear Betsy, thank you and for seeing me. I know you know the seasons of gardening and growing things and all the beauty that unfolds.
So very beautiful and lush and gorgeous, Carolyn.
“and we put out the sign for neighbors to please help themselves / as we are working on helping ourselves”
Lovely! Thanks for sharing this bounty with us, from the depths of this our “bittersweet, beautiful world” <3
I am away again from my home but will be there next week and first thing, will step back into my garden. It is always such a grounding force for me. Chinwe, thank you for your kindness and noticing my words and images.
Such a thoughtful post. Thinking of you.
Belated thank you, Kirstin. And for your support and comments about my mom.
So beautiful, in every way. Thank you.
Thank you for writing me dear Jacqui. I feel so lucky to be part of the Viewfinders community. Always inspired by you and the others.