Monday, June 1, 2009

Garden Bloggers' Muse Day: June 1, 2009

Peonies by Mary Oliver

*Click on collage to enlarge

This morning the green fists of the peonies are getting ready
to break my heart
as the sun rises,
as the sun strokes them with his old, buttery fingers

and they open-
pools of lace,
white and pink-
and all day the black ants climb over them,

boring their deep and mysterious holes
into the curls,
craving the sweet sap,
taking it away

to their dark, underground cities-
and all day
under the shifty wind,
as in a dance to the great wedding,

the flowers bend their bright bodies,
and tip their fragrance to the air,
and rise,
their red stems holding

all that dampness and recklessness
gladly and lightly,
and there it is again-
beauty the brave, the exemplary,

blazing open.
Do you love this world?
Do you cherish your humble and silky life?
Do you adore the green grass, with its terror beneath?

Do you also hurry, half-dressed and barefoot, into the garden,
and softly,
and exclaiming of their dearness,
fill your arms with the white and pink flowers,

with their honeyed heaviness, their lush trembling,
their eagerness
to be wild and perfect for a moment, before they are
nothing, forever?

Join other garden bloggers on the 1st of each month, for Garden Bloggers' Muse Day, hosted by Carolyn gail at Sweet Home and Garden, Chicago.

Have a Great Gardening Day!

--Today I am thankful for peonies and poetry.

30 comments:

  1. I don't know Mary Oliver or this poem but I'm so very pleased that you've introduced us. "As the sun strokes them with his old, buttery fingers"...love this line. "Do you also hurry, half-dressed and barefoot, into the garden"...don't we all do this? Great post! Enjoyed it very much.

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  2. Gorgeous Jan, what a beautiful paeony! Which one is it? I love the spikey centre. Is it fragrant?

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  3. Hi there Jan : )
    My peony hasn't opened yet .. we are having very cool weather so I think she is waiting for some warm sun ? haha
    Your peonies look wonderful !

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  4. Gorgeous peonies Jan! Good poem as well.

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  5. these are gorgeous jan.
    absolutely gorgeous.
    love the mosaic form.
    have a wonderful afternoon.

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  6. Beautiful poem, Jan ... Happy June Gardening!

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  7. A perfect poem to go along with your beautiful peonies, Jan! I don't grow peonies, but every June I regret not having any when I see them in full bloom all around town. Garden bloggers are the ones who introduced me to the poetry of Mary Oliver; she's a fantastic muse for a gardener.

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  8. I love your peony mosaic! My peonies aren't blooming yet but they are one of my favorite flowers.
    Carolyn

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  9. I really enjoyed this poem and your beautiful peonies!

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  10. Beautiful collage and ever more stunning photos

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  11. Beautiful collage and poem. It's such a pleasure to look at your photography.

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  12. Lovely Peonies and lovely poem.

    Isn't it such an exciting time of year in the garden.

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  13. Wonderful photos and verse!

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  14. Lovely collage! White peonies just scream elegance.

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  15. Lovely collage! White peonies just scream elegance.

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  16. What a wonderful poem and the white peony is so pretty. I have been seeing so many beautiful peonies from everyone.

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  17. Jan, your white peony collage is beautiful! I love the little red in the center. A wonderful poem, too!

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  18. Hi,

    I just wrote a long answer to you and it disappear, so i send this quick and try again,
    MB

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  19. Well now I try, sorry if you get many comments from me today.
    I was saying that you made me so happy because your poem is good and i really really like it.

    If you do not have a garden you have not seen the ants and Me to run out side half dressed in the morning to look at the flowers.

    I am exited and can not wait until I get the present.

    I want to be able to use the language like you do.
    On my blog, it is the pregnant lice (eating of the Opuntisa) that give the colorizer for food an lipstick and so on.
    sending you a big big hug,
    Lots of love Maria Berg

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  20. Jan, Your collage is stunning and the Mary Oliver poem, sigh, isn't she wonderful! (The peonies have peaked and are now memory) gail

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  21. Peonies, one of my 5 favorite flowers. Mary Oliver one of my favorite poets. A lovely start to my day.
    Marnie

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  22. I too would like to know the identity of that lovely white peony!

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  23. What beautiful peony shots....I am jealous here in my So Cal garden where they do not grow!

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  24. Beautiful peony collage.
    And a nice poem.

    Have a great week


    Gunilla

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  25. Mary Oliver captured the peony experience perfectly! Yours are gorgeous and I would hope they last a long time for you. The 'terroe beneath' is what we are fighting right now. Our house has been invaded by ants!

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  26. I love Mary Oliver, and I love your peonies! Thanks, Jan!

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  27. White peonies... lovely :-D Your collage is beautiful. I like your choice of poem and the part which says... Do you also hurry, half-dressed and barefoot, into the garden, and softly, and exclaiming of their dearness, fill your arms with the white and pink flowers,...sometimes I do ;-) especially when I see some blooms.

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  28. I don't know how I missed your Muse Day post, sorry about that. The poem is wonderful, it compliments your beautiful Peonies. :)

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  29. Your photography is awesome.... as always! It seems your photos have changed .... did you get a new camera or playing with some new settings? LOVE IT!!!!!

    Your blog is one of my favorites!

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Thanks so much for visiting and taking the time to comment! Please enjoy your TODAY and all of the gifts in YOUR garden of life!

Jan

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