Redbud Tree
Posted March 31st, 2009 by Kim Hancey Duffy
Daniel talked recently about actively “not knowing” what you are going to experience before you experience it. Don’t imagine you know what a Mormon temple looks like inside. Don’t imagine you know what a forsythia branch looks like in bloom. Go and take it in as if you’ve never seen one before.
This reminded me of a poem I have recited to myself every spring for the 20 years I’ve lived down a wooded lane. After months of snow, I’m so eager for the blossoms to emerge on the redbud tree. But what happens instead is a snowstorm, which threatens to dampen my spirits. After I remember this poem though, I go down the lane to see what surprises nature may have brought overnight. I’m glad I’ve been doing this for 20 years because, at 56 years old, I may have only thirty springs remaining to see the redbud tree in bloom.
Lovliest of Trees
Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.
Now, of my threescore years and ten,
Twenty will not come again,
And take from seventy springs a score,
It only leaves me fifty more.
And since to look at things in bloom
Fifty springs are little room,
About the woodlands I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow.
A. E. Houseman
Photo by camra_art
Tags: awareness, consciousness, knowledge, not-knowing
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7 Responses to “Redbud Tree”
April 3rd, 2009 at 10:46 am
Hi Kim,
Thanks for sharing this!
April 4th, 2009 at 12:15 am
For centuries, this beauty evokes loving words.
“I expected to see only pink blossoms,
but a gentle spring snow has fallen
and the cherry trees are wearing a white coat.”
By Ryokan (1758 to 1831)
April 8th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
I am very moved by your poetry choice. Thank you for posting this.
Blessings,
Peedee
April 8th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
@Peedee
Great to hear from you. I didn’t write the book review Gertje one of my students did -I liked it too. Thanks very much for your comments – you can subscribe to the blog if you like – in any event I would love to keep hearing from you.
April 8th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Thank you for that heads-up Sensei! I see now that different authors have been contributing to this fantastic blog as I read the names of the authors in very small print.
I will for sure be participating in these discussions from time to time as I’m a voracious reader and I really appreciate the wisdom that is shared here at the Lost Coin community.
I’m really excited about this opportunity! Thanks again.
April 17th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Kim, I like this post very much. I think that I recognize a kindred spirit.
April 19th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
To learn to appreciate hail storms in springtime is to be present in the now. Rather than permit the mind to wander into ideas that may unfold, one can realize what everything has already become. NO dreaming or practice is necessary. Simply choose to be and know.
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