As soon as the snow melts the grass begins to grow. Even
though the daytime high is barely above freezing, even
though May is very like November, marsh marigolds bloom
in the swamp and the popple trees produce a faint green
that hangs under the low clouds like a haze over the valley.
This is the way the saints live, no complaints, no suspicion,
no surprise. If it rains, carry an umbrella, if it’s cold, wear
a jacket.
~ Louis Jenkins, “Saints” from “Just Above Water: Prose Poems“
Notes: Poem: Thank you Beth @ Alive on all Channels. Photo: Marsh Marigold in Swamp via nature preserves
I just saw this lived out in Shanghai! It has changed me deeply. 🙏🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Shanghai! You are just our renaissance Queen. We are in awe. We are not worthy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh you are worthy! Ha 🙏🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Simple advice. Go with the flow. Pretty much my mantra.
LikeLiked by 2 people
And flow and flow and flow…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. Lord knows the flows come and go, don’t they?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, they do…they do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
and you remind me of this big flow:
“Wouldn’t it be nice to be one of those people who doesn’t overthink anything, who just goes with the flow—who lives the unexamined life?” I remember saying that there was a difference between examining and dwelling, and if we’re cut off from our feelings, just skating on the surface, we don’t get peace or joy—we get deadness.
~ Lori Gottlieb, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed. (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, April 2, 2019)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh yes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such good advice, AND a great text/photo combo….
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is. Thank you Kiki.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perfectly simple and simply perfect!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It really is…
LikeLike
Yes David a great advice and just flow with the times.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is…and bring a jacket. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha for sure David.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always workin’ on my ‘attitude of gratitude.’ 🙏🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
We can never work on that hard and long enough…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ain’t that the truth?!
LikeLiked by 1 person
such a good metaphor for all of life
LikeLiked by 1 person
It really is…
LikeLiked by 1 person
No complaints, no suspicion, no surprise 😇 Being at peace with the weather is a great measure of our enlightenment!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
What to do? … JUST ABOVE WATER … ‘This is the way the saints live, no complaints, no suspicion,
no surprise. If it rains, carry an umbrella, if it’s cold, wear
a jacket … Louis Jenkins, “Saints” from “Just Above Water: Prose Poems“
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the photo of the delicate yellow marsh marigolds–they come through the cold and wet with their beauty.
…and, wear a waterproof jacket!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Smiling. Yes Valerie…
LikeLike
Just a tad common sense
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, and only to comply!
LikeLike
The Marsh Marigolds are blooming along the creek and in our yard (even under the Aspen tree) as I type away…he and the dog walked along the creek this morning he came through the door with a wildflower bouquet: white daisy, fragrant pink wild roses, darker pink clover, purple camas, wild grass, a closed goats beard and petite yellow pea or vetch flowers, so dainty part of the tendrils’ veining blossoms have gone to seed looking just like the edible peas in our garden only so tiny..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
LikeLike