Tuesday, March 1, 2011

"You can cut all the flowers, but you cannot keep Spring from coming" (--Pablo Neruda)


Today

If ever there were a spring day so perfect,
so uplifted by a warm intermittent breeze

that it made you want to throw
open all the windows in the house

and unlatch the door to the canary's cage,
indeed, rip the little door from its jamb,

a day when the cool brick paths
and the garden bursting with peonies

seemed so etched in sunlight
that you felt like taking

a hammer to the glass paperweight
on the living room end table,

releasing the inhabitants
from their snow-covered cottage

so they could walk out,
holding hands and squinting

into this larger dome of blue and white,
well, today is just that kind of day.

(-Billy Collins)

12 comments:

laura said...

Ah, more from "our" poet, Billy Collins: what a great way to end (or begin or intermiss [?] my day. Thank you!

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

It's March 1st.. Spring is almost here!!! Please don't cut the flowers! :))Lovely poem.

ParisBreakfasts said...

Oh exquisite Sue.
You and your perfect floral arrangements always make my heart gopitter-patter...

Sandra said...

The daffodils have just started to spring up here - though it's still cold right now. But, at least it's a good sign that spring is just around the corner :0)

Robyn said...

Promises, promises :)

Pétales de fées said...

So exquisite poem and flower ! Spring is just at the door of the year ! Kiss

Judybec said...

Yeay Spring! I'm so ready.
Thanks for the poem and pretty flowers
love your delicate swt pea header -

A Brush with Color said...

Thanks, everyone! Love our camellias. They're blooming like crazy right now.

ParisBreakfasts said...

They are BLOOMING in your garden?!
do you have a spare room?
I sleep on the floor...

A Brush with Color said...

Yes--they're blooming, Carol--pretty, aren't they!?

Katie said...

Super sweet prose that matches today here in AZ, perfectly (minus the peonies). And I adore the vase/pitcher which your flower rests in...any chance of seeing a full shot of it, a painting, or perhaps the story behind it if there is one. It's a charming piece, what I can see of it. ;)

A Brush with Color said...

Thank you, Katie. I like that poem. The pitcher is from a little sugar/creamer set I picked up in a school, "Whitman College," at their bookstore, in Washington state one time years ago--I just liked it, and I use it as a vase sometimes, too. Thanks!

I did do a little sketch of it once, but I'll probably try to again--it's a fun piece!