poem in praise of menstruation

- Lucille Clifton

if there is a river

more beautiful than this

bright as the blood

red edge of the moon          if

there is a river

more faithful than this

returning each month

to the same delta          if there

is a river

braver than this

coming and coming in a surge

of passion, of pain          if there is

a river

more ancient than this

daughter of eve

mother of cain and of abel          if there is in

the universe such a river          if

there is some where water

more powerful than this wild

water

pray that it flows also

through animals

beautiful and faithful and ancient

and female and brave



from: The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton. Copyright 1991.

Kilt Monday!

'Cause let's face it,

Mondays can be so rough, hard, difficult.

Here's to the Ideals in the Constitution This Flag Represents

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

It's A Garden Party - What's the Buzz?

This feature, originally known as Saturday Farmer's Market, was created by Heather at Capricious Reader, and then hosted by Chris at Stuff as Dreams are Made on.

This is my corner bed by the community mailbox. I originally planted it with Lavender, but the neighbor's irrigation was too much for it. Currently it is filled with plants that are tolerant of a variety of conditions. I hardly have to water this bed and it still explodes with life, all because the neighbors like grass and don't understand how irrigation works. By now, even if they figure it out the plants are well enough established to thrive. 

The plants you see are (front to back): Sedum, Coreopsis, Agave, Cape Honeysuckle, & Fortnight Lily. (There is still some Oxalis mixed in with the Sedum.) The California Poppies in the photo are growing outside the bed, in the yard.

I have been having a problem keeping water in my little Bird Bath here. The clay is so porous that once the summer heat sets in (like now) it's gone in a matter of hours. We are looking for either a coating that won't hurt the patrons or a replacement vessel.

Sweet!

Aside from the wonderful scent, my Lavender is usually so full of these little guys, in all sizes and colors, that it seems to be moving on its own. Somewhere nearby there must be hives with wonderful honey. I wonder how far Bees travel for pollen.

The walk to our front door divides the front yard in half, and about 1/2 of the right hand side (as you face the house) is planted with Lavender. I now have four different kinds: Spanish, Grosso, Munstead, & English. Each is a bit different in growing habit, color, and scent. (Yeah. California Poppies are everywhere.)

There's a few things I've learned in life: always throw salt over your left shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for good luck, and fall in love whenever you can.

(- Practical Magic)

It May Not Be Official Yet, But Summer Is Definitely Here . . .

Grab Your Favorite Cuppa, Kick Back, and Enjoy Some Peace and Quiet.

Quote of the Day

When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life.  When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up.  I wrote down 'happy'. They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life.

 - John Lennon

Mottled Tuesday

- John Ashbery

Something was about to go laughably wrong,
whether directly at home or here,
on this random shoal pleading with its eyes
till it too breaks loose, caught in a hail of references.
I’ll add one more scoop
to the pile of retail.

Hey, you’re doing it, like I didn’t tell you
to, my sinking laundry boat, point of departure,
my white pomegranate, my swizzle stick.
We’re leaving again of our own volition
for bogus patterned plains streaked by canals,
maybe. Amorous ghosts will pursue us
for a time, but sometimes they get, you know, confused and
forget to stop when we do, as they continue to populate this
fertile land with their own bizarre self-imaginings.
Here’s hoping the referral goes tidily, O brother.
Chime authoritatively with the pop-ups and extras.
Keep your units pliable and folded,
the recourse a mere specter, like you have it coming to you,
awash with the new day and its abominable antithesis,
OK? Don’t be able to make that distinction.


from: A Worldly Country. Copyright 2007.