rose

This week's theme was inspired by a poem of Mary Oliver. I thought it to be such beautiful imagery that I made arrangements with just roses so that one may simply look, savour, and reflect without being distracted by the use of other varieties of flowers.

When the roses speak, I pay attention

“As long as we are able to
be extravagant we will be
hugely and damply
extravagant. Then we will drop
foil by foil to the ground. This
is our unalterable task, and we do it
joyfully.”

And they went on, “Listen,
the heart-shackles are not, as you think,
death, illness, pain,
unrequited hope, not loneliness, but
lassitude, rue, vainglory, fear, anxiety,
selfishness.”

Their fragrance all the while rising from their blind bodies, making me spin with joy.