Friday, January 28, 2011

Summer Ripening..

Summer is two thirds over
and the harakeke flowers have gone.

No more  birds feeding in the harakeke, for the time of nectar has finished.


Inside the black leathery pods
are the little black flax seeds
spilling in their thousands.

I carried this pod home from the lake, in my pocket, so I could sketch it.  It was tight shut but as it lay in the sun while I ate my breakfast out on the deck, it opened and the little shiny seeds fell out when I picked it up.

As we enjoy the season of summer, eating fresh beans and sweetcorn and luscious tomatoes,
already Mother Nature is preparing for a future season
from her crazy abundance.
Tonight there is a gentle rain falling steadily and I am wondering about the leaves
in the spouting by my top deck
and whether they are blocking the flow and wishing I'd remembered to remove them.

Dead leaves and tiny seeds. What a mystery this universe is.
Every dead leaf has been sun catcher and a factory of energy and oxygen for us to breathe. 
Every tiny seed holds the DNA of promise,
the power of possibility,
and the sound of life giving summer rain will lull me off to sleep tonight.

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6 comments:

  1. I love the harakeke flower -- when I was a kid I'd look at the seed pod and wonder where all the seeds would end up. Still do, actually!

    Last nite, hub and I looked at Animal Planet...one of the segments was about glow worms that inhabit caves in NZ. Really fascinating how the worms spun a threat to catch insects that couldn't resist flying to the patch of glow at the worm's posterior. More amazing was how these glow worms lit up the caves. It's supposed to be the most impressive such site in the world. NZ is like a box of treasures, each as exciting as the other.

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  2. This reminds me of when our spring blossoms suddenly finish and there's a moment of sadness for the passing of a season...but the seeds remain for the next time they can shine in their glory. Beautiful post, Joan.

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  3. I love finding seeds and the miracle of creation they show us each season. I love the winding down of summer as much as the first blooms of spring for they are all a part of nature's cycle and, as you nicely say, promise.

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  4. Such beauty and wisdom in your words. I always feel a sense of renewal when I visit here. I think your blog, itself, is like a life-giving seed which nourishes the heart and soul.

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  5. Oh Joan, this is so good. Every line. Full of grace.

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  6. I've always loved the harakeke seeds and have often collected them. I love your photo: it reminds me of one of your doodles! thank you for this poetic marking of the changing season as we approach Lammas.

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