Monday, December 27, 2010

The Three Oddest Words by Wislawa Szymborska

I miss the dragonflies.  One of my blue summer pals on my foot.


The Three Oddest Words
By Wislawa Szymborska

When I pronounce the word Future,
the first syllable already belongs to the past.

When I pronounce the word Silence,
I destroy it.

When I pronounce the word Nothing,
I make something no non-being can hold.

~Translated by S. Baranczak & C. Cavanagh

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We had a wonderful Christmas.  It was cold and damp, but our daughter, April, had a big fire going in her fireplace.  It got so warm inside we had to open the windows to cool off.  She cooked an amazing meal of beef brisket, chicken & dressing, giblet gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, dirt cake and pecan pie.  I made my sweet potato souffle.  (The dirt cake is topped with crushed Oreos....hence the name).  Everything was delicious and delightful.  Both of my girls are fabulous cooks.  April painted me a magnificent, huge oil painting of a woman with a dragonfly hovering in front of her face.  I'll post pics of it later this week.  My other daughter, Sarah, called from Chattanooga wild with excitement early on Christmas morning.  "Mama, it's SNOWING!"  Having been raised here in Louisiana where we seldom get snow, she still gets excited at every snowfall.  But the fact that they got their first snowfall on Christmas was especially sweet and special. 

The grand-ones, Mary Mace and Warner, grabbed the phone and told me what Santa brought them and I could feel their joy through the phone.  Warner, who's 4 years old, got his first 'big boy' bicycle.  Mary Mace turned 7 on Christmas Eve and I sent her 4 books about fairies, one a magnificent pop-up with flowers and fairies hidden in the blooms.  When we visited at Thanksgiving, I told her about a fairy circle of mushrooms I found in my backyard years ago.  She was enthralled and said, "Grammy, do you really, really believe in fairies?"  I assured her that I did and she gave me a sparkling grin and said, "I didn't even know grownups believed stuff like that!"  Oh, the joys of childhood!!  I must've been a really good girl this year because Santa brought me my dream gift, a Canon Rebel camera which I've wanted for years.  It's my version of a diamond ring.  Tee-Hee.  I'd rather have photos than diamonds any old day.

I hope each and every one of you had a wonderful holiday, filled with love and family.

Wishing you all love, joy and peace,

~Marion

"Every man [and woman] should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past." ~Henry Ward Beecher

11 comments:

Kelly said...

LOVE that poem!!

I'm glad you had such a nice Christmas, Marion. We've had some cold (I think it was 17 last night!), but no rain or snow. We sure could use some rain.

I'm looking forward to seeing pictures (with your new camera?!) of your gift from April. Hard to believe how old MM and Warner are now!

Anonymous said...

very elegant piece.
lovely taste.

Anonymous said...

Greetings, how are you?

Welcome join us at potluck week 16, with theme as celebrations and festivities..

Feel free to claim awards via the link below…

Awards 4 potluck week 16


We value your support, Have A blessed Holiday!
Best Wishes 4 the year of 2011….
Next Potluck is January 9, 2010,
Please Don’t miss this golden opportunity to shine!
Feel Free to link in 1 to 3 old poems or poems unrelated to our theme today,

Jingle Poetry : http://jinglepoetry.blogspot.com/
xoxox

Rosaria Williams said...

Thanks for Nina, nothing like her around. What a treat coming here!

Serena said...

I adore the poem choice! And it sounds like you had wonderful Christmas. And the budding Fairy Princess Mary Mace just made it magical, didn't she? She is SO like her Grammy. The child will go far.:)

Kay said...

quite literally, you brought both cheer and tears to my eyes... living vicariously through warm summers with your ever-be-loved dragonfly, right down to the joys of parenthood and true holiday blessings....

you are one special person. much love to you and yours. <3

* said...

We make a dirt cake in our house, too, most often in the summer, though, and served with barbequed hamburgers, hotdogs, etc.

Hoping you the best, and I'm with you, photos trump diamond rings.

Merry merry week to you!

Bubba said...

Sounds like a wonderful Christmas, Marion... and don't worry, your dragonflies will be back soon.

Woman in a Window said...

The new year seems exhilarating to me, Marion. Every day, these days. I'm off work except for one day a week and somehow life seems more real like this, as though i have been gifted time itself. Although, that camera is perty darned nice! (Good one, Ray! Nice. I'm happy for you, Marion.)

I do believe there are lessons there in that poem that make my head widen:)

All the best to you and yours, Marion. Oh, and I love me the dirt cake!

xo
erin

Rick said...

marion
glad your christmas was good.
wow
now we'll reallyu see the garden with that new camera
blessings for the new year
~rick

Debrah Riddleton said...

Dear Marion:
I am very happy to know that you spent a wonderful Christmas. Your words smell of cooking, love, harmony, happiness and much more.
I like the reflection on the first day of the year we should be reborn. However, the ability to destroy our mistakes and move on the successes, seems to be a very difficult task.
Anyway, I want to thank all your attention and support.
Sincerely:
Debrah