Peonies
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?
-Mary Oliver
Gorgeous! Peonies are so full and lush. What a blessing to have them in bloom!!
Thanks Susan. They're worth the wait. 🙂
Beautiful Cathy. I thought you'd written the poem until I got to the end. Good one to accompany the picture.
Oh, I wish I could write like Mary Oliver. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Ellen!
What an enjoyable post. We had pink peonies at our old house and each year, all of us looked forward to their blooms. I often gave them as gifts to my children's teachers. I'd forgotten how the ants loved them! Thanks for reviving treasured memoriesm Cathy! Bless you.
Thank you Cynthia! You're so right — they're a delectable delight for the ants. This particular bloom had the least amount I'd ever seen. 🙂
What a wonderful post. I love peonies! I have always loved the pink peonies with their sweet fragrance. Beautiful poem.
Thanks for sharing!
Beauty all around! Thanks!
Thank you for taking the time to share, Katherine and Vonda! I always appreciate your comments. 🙂 Blessings!