Come with me
into the field of sunflowers.
Their faces are burnished disks,
their dry spines
creak like ship masts,
their green leaves,
so heavy and many,
fill all day with the sticky
sugars of the sun.
Come with me
to visit the sunflowers,
they are shy
but want to be friends;
they have wonderful stories
of when they were young -
the important weather,
the wandering crows.
Don't be afraid
to ask them questions!
Their bright faces,
which follow the sun,
will listen, and all
those rows of seeds -
each one a new life!
hope for a deeper acquaintance;
each of them, though it stands
in a crowd of many,
like a separate universe,
is lonely, the long work
of turning their lives
into a celebration
is not easy.
Come and let us talk with those modest faces,
the simple garments of leaves,
the coarse roots in the earth
so uprightly burning.
mary oliver
postcards from paradise
finding sacred in the ordinary and the joy that comes with sharing.
a chance to visit others offerings and leave a word of kindness
as we walk a world labyrinth in the art of seeing.
please write recuerda mi corazon
I love those colours of bee and sunflower in the last pic, so busy in the world of perpetuating a honeyed existence for us all - rather like you ;~)
Love Sue x
Posted by: Sue Fox | August 14, 2011 at 06:42 AM
I didn't grow my tiny field of sunflowers this year, and even though there are a few errant ones in the yard, I miss them! I totally adored your post honoring and picturing them in all their glory! Thanks!
Posted by: Dawn Elliott | August 14, 2011 at 08:05 AM
Lush and gorgeous fruit of the sun. I love these flowers and Oliver's words. I remember seeing a whole field of sunflowers in the Loire valley after the rain, turning their heavy rain soaked faces all at once toward the sun's rich and vibrant light after the storm had passed. It was as if they were one organism, performing a single dance. You have given them new life again with these words and pictures.
Love,
Noelle
Posted by: Noelle | August 14, 2011 at 08:11 AM
Oh just beauty galore. Very nice Rebecca. Have a wonderul weekend.
Posted by: gloria | August 14, 2011 at 08:37 AM
Wonderful, Rebecca - LOVE the Mary Oliver poem and those glorious photographs. The sunnies just make my heart sing!! Thanks for adding me to your postcards today - I love everyone else's too!!! Truly paradise - xoxox
Posted by: Fran Meneley | August 14, 2011 at 10:25 AM
I want to run in a field of sunshine with you...chasing honey and blue skies!
Posted by: encore...please of please | August 14, 2011 at 12:00 PM
The sunflower is such a potent symbol -- we should all be programmed to always seek the light and then to shine it outwards.
Posted by: Meri @ Meri's Musings | August 14, 2011 at 12:06 PM
I find sunflowers irresistible--as do you, Rebecca. What is there about these "common old things" that makes us look twice, and three times, and a dozen? Oh, there is magic hidden in those dazzling yellow petals, that's for sure!
Posted by: Magical Mystical Teacher | August 14, 2011 at 02:49 PM
Good morning Rebecca...today is your sunshine day...your article will be posted in Art Saves Lives which I will check out soon. Most likely I am up to early for it to be posted!! Up with the sunflowers...I dearly love your Mexican sunflowers! I need to paint Mexican SF. I thought I had read every M. Oliver poem written. How in the world did I miss this one. Your photos match beautifully! That curious bee really stuck around for this photo op! My favorite is the parade of ants...why? I finally had to cut down our ten foot plus sunflowers..the storms had ravaged them and they were covered with ants. It was such a sad finale. And I have never seen so many ants, but they weren't cute like yours. I have saved the withered heads to take final pictures of..Then the seeds will be gathered and scattered for another day. I think I will toss some out into the fields surrounding us next spring. I wonder whether they will grow? Thank you for your words and pictures. smiles:sharon
Posted by: sharon furner | August 15, 2011 at 03:38 AM
such beauty in your pictures!
and i love love love mary oliver!
Posted by: missing moments | August 15, 2011 at 07:04 PM
Rebecca, thank you for visiting my blog and calling my attention here. I'd not heard of this Mary Oliver poem either. It's beautiful, as are your photographs. Just breathtaking!
"the long work of turning their lives into a celebration is not easy..."
- but we're trying to do that with Erin's short and beautiful life
xo
Posted by: Mary | August 16, 2011 at 08:12 PM