Thursday, January 1, 2009

Note to Self: 2009

The Matron hopes that the next year has a lot of this in it!

The Five-Day Rain
by Denise Levertov

The washing hanging from the lemon tree
in the rain
and the grass long and coarse.

Sequence broken, tension
of sunlight broken.
So light a rain

fine shreds
pending above the rigid leaves.

Wear scarlet! Tear the green lemons
off the tree! I don't want
to forget who I am, what has burned in me
and hang limp and clean, an empty dress ---


The Matron so loves the images, the suspension, the lust for lemons so urgent that one must reach while they are still green, not ready. No waiting!

Here's the next year we've been given. Blaze and shine.

17 comments:

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

Blaze and shine . . . it does have quite a ring to it.

Unknown said...

Thank. I need a little blaze and shine right about now!

Beth said...

No empty dresses, no regrets - here's to a new year and to the promise it brings!

Anonymous said...

I am more of a steady glow kind of person, but a few moments of blaze and shine sound like fun!

Serial Mommy said...

i love the pic in header, it looks a lot like my home state, however i'm not in minnesota, i'm in michigan...we get the snow and ice here too...it's called LAKE EFFECT..i tell you, little kids just learning to talk learn those words before other things!

Anonymous said...

*Shine in 2009* was the catch phrase for our cards this year :)

Lovely, lovely poem. I couldn't help thinking of my little miss, who just yesterday I was imploring to leave the lemons on the tree until they get yellow :D

Happy, Happier, Happiest New Year Matron and family.

Daisy said...

I love the images. That's what makes a poem connect for me.
If you have time, I've tagged you. It'll be up on Friday, 1/2.

Minnesota Matron said...

Tagged! Oh my. The Matron laggeth and stumbles, already. She'll give it the old college try :-)

Rima said...

That is absolutely lovely.

And let's hope that 2009 will be, as well. Cheers, Matron!

contemporary themes said...

I love Denise Levertov!

Awesome poem!

JCK said...

That last paragraph spoke to me! I may have to print it out and put it over my desk.

Happy New Year, Matron!

She She said...

Ooh. I love this. I'm going to hang it on my mirror as a reminder.

Anonymous said...

I dunno, you know how poetry goes. She could well be alluding to her lust for an underage boy. :P

Anonymous said...

I love this sentiment. Thanks.

Julie said...

No empty dresses, no regrets... I love this! Thanks for sharing. Happy New Year!

Unknown said...

Bring it on, Ms.M:>)

Fragrant Liar said...

Blazin' and shinin' here. 2009 promises to be a gazillion times better than the fat lemon that was 2008.

Happy new year!

KJ
http://fragrantliar.blogspot.com