Interim Day



What to do with yourself, while you are waiting for an outcome that is inevitable, but hasn't yet happened?
I walk, in the last month of this coldest spring, down the lanes: even in chill here come the fork tailed birds of summer; fat bees, the first fruit on the wild strawberry. Such calm, such soothing words. I have my phone which I type on so slowly. There is no one for miles. There is a voice memo function. I speak the words about the fork tail birds, fat bees, first fruits. My voice quavers, a little. The phone hears this:

On this last month o underslung last man to disco disc brake hey come this tailored fit summer is that bees fresh fruit wild strawberry

Poetic comedy, exactly what is needed.
I say, Universe, I need a miracle.
Later, my car is stamped safe for road use for another year. I should have chosen my thoughts with greater precision.

Inevitable, but not yet happened. The white bells shine in hedgerow groups, gathered, congregational, sepulchral.  



Comments

  1. Suze14 May 2013 at 00:01

    Lis, you okay? I'm trying hard to read between, over, under and through the lines here. Last word's a bit disconcerting.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lisa Southard14 May 2013 at 12:15

    Not an easy situation to write about: I am okay, though I always say that! We are waiting for news: my friend's husband is dying. I am writing these things for her, really, without wanting to cause worry, but this is so hard for her to bear and we are too far away to be there with her, this and phone calls are what I can do to help. He's been ill a while, but there's no real preparing for the brunt of such reality. She is amazing and strong, and will get through this: even so, it's a difficult thing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Stephanie14 May 2013 at 16:01

    I am so sorry to hear about your friend's husband. Long goodbyes are very hard; a different kind of pain than unexpected death. Which is also hard. (And "hard" is not the right word, but there's not really a word big enough.)

    I'm glad you have bees this year: we are seeing a noticeable drop in our bee population. And maybe because of that: none of my fruit trees are bearing this year. (Could also be the late chill.)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Susan Flett Swiderski15 May 2013 at 03:55

    I'm so sorry. Sounds rough, but you're expressing the sentiments beautifully.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lisa Southard15 May 2013 at 09:12

    Thank you, Suze, Stephanie and Susan xxx And let's hope the chill is done, we could all do with cheery weather!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Suze19 May 2013 at 04:26

    Have read this. With you in spirit.

    ReplyDelete

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