When I Am An Old Woman I Shall Wear A Flower On My Hat...

Since we're right in the middle of Gardening Season I thought I'd do a re-post of a poem I wrote last year.  You can find the original post HERE!

 

WHEN I AM AN OLD WOMAN I SHALL WEAR A FLOWER ON MY HAT

I'll lunch with the ladies and have a lovely chat,

about peonies, daisies and others such as that.

I'll drink Pepsi from a glass bottle with a straw,

and not worry about enjoying a delicious bear claw.

When I'm an Old Woman with a flower on my hat,

I'll spend my days in a dress and garden boots,

sauntering through my garden and admiring the new shoots.

I shan't care about the latest style in women's wear,

because I'd also be happy wearing a flower in my hair.

I'll whisper sweet words to my little struggling lilac shrub,

the one that seems to appear a little smug. 

I'll say, "You know you want to...Be Proud,

and I'm sure you'll gain an admiring crowd".

When I'm an Old Woman, the one with the flower on my hat,

I'll spend my evenings having a chat,

with my sweet little neighbor who is almost 95,

she's the one I've lived next door to for the last 25 (years that is).

She and I,

We'll trade seeds and also laugh about all those pesky weeds.

When I'm an Old Woman with a flower on my hat,

I hope to snuggle with a grand baby on my lap,

I'll tell her about peonies, daisies and others such as that.

I'll tell that same grand baby that a garden is no good unless it is shared,

and also that kindnesses aren't meant to be spared.

I'll whisper to her that blessings and love,

can be sprinkled on others like rain from up above.

When I'm an Old Woman with a flower on my hat,

I'll ponder that my children were like my garden.

I planted, I watered and sometimes pulled weeds, 

then I stood back and watched what they were to turn out to be.

The most important thing that I hope to know,

is that I took the time to enjoy watching them grow.

--jackie

Decoration Day...

This day we celebrate as Memorial Day was once known as Decoration Day.  It originated after the Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union Soldiers.  I have grown to love poetry over the last few years and the following poem was originally published by Longfellow in The Atlantic in 1882.  Hauntingly beautiful.

Decoration Day

Sleep, comrades, sleep and rest

On this Field of the Grounded Arms,

Where foes no more molest,

Nor sentry's shot alarms!

Ye have slept on the ground before,

And started to your feet

At the cannon's sudden roar,

Or the drum's redoubling beat.

But in this camp of Death

No sound your slumber breaks;

Here is no fevered breath,

No wound that bleeds and aches.

All is repose and peace,

Untrampled lies the sod;

The shouts of battle cease,

It is the Truce of God!

Rest, comrades, rest and sleep!

The thoughts of men shall be

As sentinels to keep

Your rest from danger free.

Your silent tents of green

We deck with fragrant flowers

Yours has the suffering been,

The memory shall be ours.

                              -- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Happy Memorial Day!

--jackie

Peace and Quiet...

Can you have too many Hydrangea Bushes?  I don't think so.   Seven...that's how many I counted today in my yard and I'm thinking about another one.  All but one of them are in my backyard...where I spend most of the time when I'm outside. 

Peaceful...and Quiet...That's what they say to me...and Old Fashioned like what you might see at your Grandma's house.

The pink one in the above photo is under my office window at the back of the house, but it looks to me like it belongs in front of a shabby old farmhouse with white peeling paint.  My farmhouse porch would be surrounded by hydrangeas and I would be sitting on my porch swing with a warm breeze blowing.  I'd be looking out at my garden and see hollyhocks, pole beans and heirloom tomatoes. Now, that's a sweet daydream.

 

You know, I've been nursing these beauties for approximately seven years now.  They have had just a few blooms in those years.  This year...they are covered.  I feel like all my nurturing has paid off.  Or it's some quirk of nature...which is what happens so often in my garden.  

See that bowl of water in the photo above?  It's my DIY bird bath.  An old stump with an overturned clay pot placed on it and the dish of water on top...with a pretty rock in it.  I catch someone taking a bath in it almost every time I go out back.  It's surrounded by Lemon Balm, Hostas and Daylillies with my Blue Hydrangea in the foreground.   It's one of my favorite spots in the garden.  Lately...this is where I spend my early mornings before everyone else is awake.  Drinking coffee with vanilla caramel creamer, contemplating my day, praying and enjoying the peace and quiet of summer mornings.

 

Time for a refill on my coffee...I hope you find some peace...and quiet...today as well.  Have a great Sunday.


--jackie