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| by Sommer Roman Sheffield |
Over the past several weeks I've been observing a hyacinth bulb in our front yard slower emerge from it's winter's slumber. Not only did it stick out as the only bulb growing out of the sea of ivy, but it quite strangely had managed to grow through the middle of a dead leaf. The dead leaf appeared to be choking it, as it surrounded it's closed bud. I have never seen anything like this. Seriously- how did the the delicate dried leaf happen to fall exactly in the perfectly balanced position on the head of the flower so that when a sudden growth spurt hit, it would grow through it? really? To say the least, I was very tempted to relief the flower from the constraining leaf. However I soon decided that this was their predicament to work through :)... and not mine.
Perhaps a little silly to some, but the more I observed this little front yard scenari0, the more I saw it's relevance to my life. It was like a little parable, just for me. Lately I've been thinking a lot about the painful and difficult situations/circumstances that find their way into our lives, uninvited... you know... the things that we are "born into," without a say in the matter. ... the things that seem "unfair," or "undeserved"... and that feel suffocating and really heavy at times... etc. and despite it all- there it is: this unwanted "stuff", woven into our experience, into who we are, and into who we are becoming.
so yeah- this little spring hyacinth was like a parallel narrative of some of my recent thoughts & feelings. I wanted to say to it, "yeah I totally know how you feel!"... and of course the story doesn't stop there :) Yesterday morning as I walked to my car, I saw her! ... in full bloom, vibrant purple, fragrant, and... sans the grasp of the leaf. ahhhh- It was a very small, private, & powerful moment speaking to me of hope and beauty.
New life breaking through what is old and lifeless.
I love these moments of real connection with the natural world! - a moment worth recording thru word & image.
What a beautiful post, Sommer! I, too have marvelled at plants (in my case, tulips and daffodils) poking up through dead leaves, and wonder how, with an obstruction so light and delicate, they don't just push it aside instead of growing through it. Definitely some parallels to life there, as you say.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Thank you!
ReplyDeletelove it! great observations and drawing!
ReplyDeletethank you Jill :)
ReplyDelete