Going in to week three my obsession with Steve Wonder’s Talking Book. One could do worse. The songs kind of snippet themselves together, musical phrases and lyrics commingling, although Blame It On The Sun is getting a lot of brain space at the moment. Perhaps that is due to the overcast morning. The music is so rich.
May 30
No morning tortoise shell kitty, but Idris is sleeping on the breezeway above my head. Ms. Tortie is likely put off by the chain saw in the house behind as my neighbor is annihilating the passion flower vine that has far exceeded its boundary. I was yanking on it myself last night as I continued to eke out some space and clean up the backyard a bit. It looks as if he is chain sawing his roses as well, which is a disappointment to me. I could see their blooms bobbing above the brick wall. To that end, I did dig out a corner of the Swimming Pool Garden to plant some zucchini, a tomato and more basil. I also put my honeysuckle vine in place. I even tried my hand at sawing off some branches on the popcorn cassia that needs to be entirely removed so that the pomegranate can take its place.
The front yard garden is coming along. The roses are particularly happy. I mentioned to my book group that I probably had 10 or 12 rose bushes, but I counted more like 16 or 17 if included the miniature roses. The gardenias are coming in. I had not fertilized this plant in ages (or like ever) so the blossoms are a bit meager. I finally fed them as I do love their scent. Last night, there was a combination of jasmine and gardenia here at my desk.
I know I refer to William Stafford's poem, A Ritual to Read to Each Other very frequently. This poem has become a mantra or a prayer for me. With all the insanity of riots and pandemics, sociopaths and racists, these stanzas come to mind
And so I appeal to a voice, to something shadowy,
a remote important region in all who talk:
though we could fool each other, we should consider—
lest the parade of our mutual life get lost in the dark.
For it is important that awake people be awake,
or a breaking line may discourage them back to sleep;
the signals we give — yes or no, or maybe —
should be clear: the darkness around us is deep.
At this time, when camaraderie and cooperation would be so crucial, we cannot gather without careful consideration, if at all. You all know this but "it is important that awake people be awake" and we stay in touch, we continue to think and share and act when we can. For sure, "the darkness around us is deep" and seems to be getting deeper.
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