Putting the Good back in Goodbye - or trying to...

Well, here I am at the allotment, preparing myself for another loss, saying 'goodbye' again; but at least this time it's on my terms. It's still hard though; still sad; still another loss.

The leaves rustle 'goodbye' and it feels like all my little friends are making sure to pop by, or fly over, so that I can see them for one  last time... Frogs, bunnies, geese, ladybirds... It's all very poignant.

Ironically, I've had my most bountiful crops ever this year, and the plum tree flowered and fruited for the first time too.

I've raised my first brood of frogs and I rescued a baby blackbird and countless bees.

Maybe my work here is done...

After the rain...

 Hello again! 

Here's something I wrote earlier today when I was sitting on my bench, enjoying the sunshine for a few moments...

After the rain...

Summertime rain brings flowers

 and life

To once parched and barren

ground.

Gardens are alive

With a blaze of colour

Lifting spirits high...

Sitting for a while

I soak it all up

With gratitude and

 love.

Refreshed and 

renewed

Tranquility returns.

What was lost

Is found.

(24th June 2011)

 

 

groan...

The weathered wheelbarrow waits

by a weary watering can

which has

suddenly

sprung 

a leak.

But luckily there isn't a hole

in my 

bucket...

hmm. I should probably delete this, shouldn't I! - I certainly hadn't planned on ending it with the 'hole in my bucket' scenario, but it just seemed to write itself. That song reminds me of seemingly never-ending car journeys in the summer holidays of a long time ago, from Whitley Bay to Kent. Intertwined with non-stop 'Are we there yet??'s, were endless games of 'I spy' and rousing sing-songs, led by my dad, presumably originating from his days of being in the scouts.... There's a hole in my bucket / On Ilkley Moor bah tat / The quartermaster's store /   Under the lilacs / Weel may the keel row / One man went to mow / and so on ... and on ... and on...

Pond life...

 Ripples on the pond

Shimmering in the sunlight

Then the scarecrow smiles...

springing back to life...

After a long hard year, there have been a couple of days this week when I have finally felt good. The weight has been lifted a little, and there is a spring in my step. Spring is everywhere, in fact.
I've been at the allotment every morning this week, and it's been gorgeous. Here are a few haikus I wrote there this morning, along with some photos...

As sun gently shines

The wood pigeon nods his head.

We share a moment.

In the morning sun

Birdsong rings out everywhere

It's the sound of spring

In a playful mood

Sunshine kisses my shoulder

With whispering wind

Like easter bonnets

Daffodils brighten the day

With a yellow splash

Ladybirds brighten

Deadwood on the compost heap

With polka dot macs

Just for a moment

Silence sweeps through the garden.

Time seems to stand still.

~~~