Robin Gets a Life: Cattails

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Cattails

I recently read this this poem in a blog post:

Wandrers Nachtlied II, by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
translated as Wayfarer's Night Song II, by Hyde Flippo

Over all the hilltops
is calm.
In all the treetops
you feel
hardly a breath of air.
The little birds fall silent in the woods.
Just wait... soon
you'll also be at rest.

The blog post referred to the death of a man who apparently was well-known to long-time readers, but whose name meant nothing to me. But the poem was a gift - a pleasant surprise - an acknowledgement of peace and beauty. Lately, work has not been very satisfactory, and the best part of my day has been those times when I can escape for a walk with Bonnie.

Here are some photos, to share some of what Bonnie and I enjoy:

Friendship Village, July 1

Asylum Lake, looking west, July 4

Asylum Lake Preserve, July 12

This next scene reminds me of Mom. Growing up, she ensured that our home was always attractive, and she regularly added touches to enhance the simple decor. We went through a phase where the favorite was thistles and cattails, arranged in a large vase on the fireplace hearth. In our travels, it didn't matter where we were - if Mom saw cattails by the roadside, we stopped to gather them.