An attitude of gratitude

We’re not quite three weeks from mid-Summer, which will occur on or about the end of the first week of August. Summer temperatures are at their normal peak this week and next. Our mileage may vary with climate breakdown continuing. The heat, humidity and bugs have me in a state of lethargy approaching comatose-level. I’m fending off feelings of guilt and starting to look forward to early October.

I’ve not tried for a close look, but distant views show few, if any, acorns on the oaks or pears on the pear tree. If I get swamped by a wave of ambition this week (heh, heh) I’ll take a closer look when I get around to mowing the yard on the north side of the house. That area still needs a bunch of dead branches picked up after the last few thunderstorms that came through.

Spotted Horsemint (Monarda punctata)

Photo by J. Harrington

We’ve reach the time of year for spotted horsemint to come into its own, but haven’t noticed any showing up in the fields around the house. Last month our county was almost 1.5” below normal for precipitation, so that may be affecting wildflower growth this month.

A small flock of wild turkeys has been wandering through the property most evenings. Deer have been seen a few mornings or evenings. All in all, we’ve been enjoying a fairly typical summer lull. These days we’re grateful things aren’t worse.

Thanks

W. S. Merwin - 1927-2019

Listen 
with the night falling we are saying thank you 
we are stopping on the bridges to bow from the railings 
we are running out of the glass rooms 
with our mouths full of food to look at the sky 
and say thank you 
we are standing by the water thanking it 
standing by the windows looking out 
in our directions 

back from a series of hospitals back from a mugging 
after funerals we are saying thank you 
after the news of the dead 
whether or not we knew them we are saying thank you

over telephones we are saying thank you 
in doorways and in the backs of cars and in elevators 
remembering wars and the police at the door 
and the beatings on stairs we are saying thank you 
in the banks we are saying thank you 
in the faces of the officials and the rich
and of all who will never change
we go on saying thank you thank you

with the animals dying around us 
our lost feelings we are saying thank you 
with the forests falling faster than the minutes 
of our lives we are saying thank you 
with the words going out like cells of a brain 
with the cities growing over us 
we are saying thank you faster and faster 
with nobody listening we are saying thank you 
we are saying thank you and waving 
dark though it is

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