Saturday, February 13, 2010

the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)


i fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you


here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

~e. e. cummings


Like many of us, I first discovered e. e. cummings when I was a student. One summer he was my library love. I would walk through the quiet and beautiful campus, mostly empty of students, and make my way up the sweep of lawn to the red brick library on the hill. There, I would search for everything I could find that he wrote and every biography about him. I enjoyed the black and white photographs in some of the books. One picture stayed with me. It was a picture of him and a woman, tousled and smiling, at their summer home. He had named it "Joy Farm".

I think that is so romantic.

Here's wishing we all find a little romance in our hearts this weekend ;-)

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Ms.S, These are absolutely lovely thoughts for Valentine's Day and beautifully illustrated. I am so pleased that you are an admirer of e.e. cummings. A particular favourite of mine is 'maggie and milly and molly and may' although that might not be the exact title. Whatever, it encapsulates all manner of beings.

I hope that you too have a very happy weekend.

Rebecca @ In The Garden said...

Beautiful post, and how perfect for Valentines day. Lovely, romantic words. ~Rebecca

miss m said...

Such lovely words combined with such excellent photography ! (When did you get the D3000 ?!)

Have a wonderful Valentine's weekend, Ms. S ! :)

The Giraffe Head Tree said...

Lovely post, dear. I wish as well for everyone to find a little romance this weekend. A little goes a long way, yes? Oh, there were hyacinths in the grocery store today and I nearly swooned, their scent was so divine!

Jan said...

We must be kindred spirits, for I fell in love with ee cummings in high school and can still recite many of his poems. My all time favorite is probably i thank you god for most this...amazing day, etc....

Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours, and your hyacinth is just lovely--especially for a Valentine post:-)

Anna said...

A perfect choice for Valentine's Day. I remember being captivated as a teenager by his poetry. Wishing you a truly romantic weekend :)

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Edith: Thank you for stopping by! I love the poem you refer to. Having grown up mostly in port cities I still find I feel closest to me when I am near water.

Enjoy your weekend!

Rebecca: Thank you! I am feeling romantic and full of gratitude this weekend. I do love my hubby and little son very much and I know I am blessed that they love me in return. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Miss m: You are so kind! I got this camera in September as a birthday gift from my hubby, and I am really enjoying it. Like you, I think I may need to get a macro lens one of these days, and maybe one for taking photos of birds. All in good time. I hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s weekend, too!

TGHT: Yes, a little romance does go a long way. ;) For us this weekend, it’s me making my special prosciutto pizza (with roasted red pepper, spinach and red onion) and us all enjoying a little cake hubby brought home. Oh, and yes, like you, when I smell the hyacinths I swoon!

Happy Valentines to you and hubby!

Jan: Oh, I love that poem too! I once had it as a screen saver scrolling off into outer space just like the opening scene of the Star Wars movies….cheesy, I know. :)

Have a great Valentines with your loved ones!

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Anna: Yes, he knew how to speak to the blossoming teenage romantic in us all. :) I hope you and Himself have a great weekend too!

Victoria said...

Wonderfully enchanting post..beautiful!
Kiki~

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Kiki: Thank you :) Wishing you a wonderful Valentines weekend.

Laurrie said...

I think we're all trying to turn our little plots and yards and gardens into some version of 'Joy Farm'. It's the whole point. Lovely Valentine's Day post!

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Hi Laurrie: You know, I think you are right. Enjoy your Valentines! :)

sweetbay said...

Lovely post! This is a wonderful poem and I love your pictures. Happy Valentine's Day to you and your family!

(PS I'm glad you like Cake Wrecks. It is funny isn't it?! :))

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Sweetbay: Cake Wrecks cracked me up! Warmest wishes to you and your family.

Kyna said...

Beautiful! Sets the romantic mood for the day :D

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Kyna: Have a romantic day yourself! ;-)

OF SPRING AND SUMMER said...

Love the poem and your pictures! Very romantic!!
Hope you are keeping well!
Have a wonderful Valentine's Day.
Love,
Ingrid x

Naturegirl said...

A romatic poem indeed with the perfect images!
Happy Valentine's day to you!

Anonymous said...

Love those hyacinths! Your photos are so clear I can smell them from here! Hmmm Italian love in the air? We're having a lasagna feast tonight!

Shady Gardener said...

Thank you for your visit this weekend. YOU have hyacinth blooming, too. :-) Hope you've had a great weekend.

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

It's so nice to see, as I've popped around the gardening blogosphere, that so many of you are having a wonderful weekend with those you love.

Romance for me this weekend was family time with my hubby and little son - their sweetness reminded that Valentine's isn't just about romance, but is about gratitude - for those who love you and those that you love. We are all special in someone's heart and for that I am grateful. :-)

Iowa Gardening Woman said...

Lovely, beautiful hyacinth also, I can almost smell it.

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

IGW: The scent is amazing! I think spring blooms are designed to make us swoon :)

kate smudges said...

Your photographs are a delight to see ~ they were a perfect accompaniment to e.e. cummings. (Just noticed that it is 10 degrees warmer there than here.) One of these days, yes, soon, spring.

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Hi Kate: Thank you for your kind comments. Yes, we have had a major spike in the temperature in the last couple of days. I went for two walks yesterday! [and I saw fuzzy buds on trees!!] Yay!

Diane said...

ah yes, ee cummings. The hyacinth is just as lovely as his words

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Thank you, Diane :-)