Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Shades of Autumn and Long Minutes of Belonging

Today down on Leawood I plucked a clump of lavender from a large fluffy bush still teeming with honey bees, small and vibrant as they darted amid the thick purple flowers, and I wondered, who do the flowers belong to, the gardener or the bees, or the person who stops on the sidewalk and admires them, pressing his face into their fragrance before taking a sprig home with him? And who do the rabbits belong to, nestled as they are in the yards, moving without moving, ears pressed flat, eyes big and wide reflecting the last of the sun and the long shadows? Do they belong to the grass where they huddle and leave their scent, or to the dog who stands long minutes, a single paw raised and pointing as though calling attention to them from the universe itself? And who do the leaves belong to, glowing and quivering in the sun on their boughs, the tree who birthed them or the ground, patient and almost motionless, which has watched them enviously for long, long minutes and will finally claim them? Who do the names carved in the railing at the lake belong to, the lovers who felt the press of time against them or the fingers which find them and trace them over and over and over again? Who does the wash of warm western light belong to, the gracious and generous sun or the silhouette of the dog which catches it and radiates it back into the flowers and the eyes of the bunnies, the shimmer of nearly invisible bee wings, the honey-lit leaves and the long grass? And does it matter, this belonging, or is it enough to stand before them for long minutes and know them utterly and openly, content that you belong to them?

7 comments:

Greg said...

Winning shots this evening--love that one of Dunc...and the bunny's a great capture, as well. I'm excited you found a little lavendar at this late end of the season.

Ah, what a pleasure to hold it under one's nose.

Lori Whitwam said...

The light at that hour of the day is perfect for pictures! I hope I have time to write today... I feel some sort of nagging emotion that needs release.

Marty said...

Even lavender struggles to compete with your writing.

I find peace with you.

Unknown said...

AH...such a question...they belong to the beholder. If you stop,look,listen, pay atention, look up, look down, look all around, the discoveries are vast. Tonight (looking up) the Catface Spider, that lives under the eaves, I've watched grow from a little thing to a LARGE thing was gone. She has completed her cycle. I don't like spiders, but I will miss her. This means Summer has passed and Fall is going the same route. How sad. I'm not ready to let go.

Unknown said...

Oh, I did love this post. Lavender is my favorite and I could imagine holding to my nose.

The pictures are fabulous. The fall colors on the tree are beautiful. We don't have much fo that here. Love the picture of the bunny, love the one of Dunc more.

Valerie Cummings said...

Stunning pictures! I love the bunny one you got pretty close! Oh and Duncan owning that tennis ball. I love seeing your world!

Curt Rogers said...

Thanks, everyone. Sometimes I get lucky on the pictures. But for everyone that appears here there are about a dozen that stink to high heaven.

Thanks for all the kind words and support!