Saturday, March 27, 2021

Wild Woman Makes Herself a Garden

not-quite Journaling, 9

scabiosa—
yum for butterflies,
bees and me

3/22/2021: The first hint of color in my garden. I hope theyll be fully bloomed by the time things get warm enough for butterflies, bees, ladybugs, and other pollinators.

 

Hoping
the found
corpse I planted
last year sprouts pretty
tulips.

3/25/2021: The mystery bulb I found in someone else’s trash, last autumn, has grown 3 inches. It could be a daffodil, a hyacinth or something else… But I am sooo hoping for a tulip. Also, it’s possible that my favorite bit of The Waste Land, by T. S. Eliot: “Stetson! / You were with me in the ships at Mylae! /The corpse you planted last year in your garden, / Has it begun to sprout? Will it bloom this year?” has been playing in my head nonstop. I blame it on the approach of April, which we all know is “the cruellest month”. 😁🌷

 

truth is a wonder-
full and terrific puzzle
to self-decipher

3/27/2021: Someone I know (perhaps, a relative *cough*) told me that they were afraid to explore the whys behind the fact that they always reach for their purse, when a Black person sits next to them on the train. I was feeling uncommonly nice and didn’t point out that the phrase “racist in denial” came to mind. But later that day, the same person suggested that their behavior must’ve been triggered by something a Black person did to them in the past and that “God helped [them] forget the pain.” The blatant stupidity of the comment cured me of my niceness rather quickly. So, I sent them this poem and asked them to explore the evils of internalized racism and convenient self-deception.

 


more garden photos

3/26/2021: They say, “Nothing can fill hollows the world grew out of loss and misery.” And I laugh (ok, cackle), and they think me mad, (and I probably amI mean, what else could explain all these commas?)—still, I stick thought and fingers and toes in dirt they’ve tried to disdain, and I say, “Poor thing, you have never felt the power of wild and woman: a Wild Woman makes herself a garden. She fills her-Self, and she shares. Want some?”


 - for Poets and Storytellers United (Writers’ Pantry #63: I Say and You Say…).

33 comments:

  1. I just love this post, Magaly! And not simply because you quote T.S. Eliot twice, LOL! I'm looking forwarding to knowing what the mystery bulb will turn out to be! And OMG, your "racist in denial" story -- sheesh!

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    1. I, too, am looking forward to the blooming surprise. Right now, she's just looking like a green curl. Double Eliots make everything better, don't they? 😁 And don't get me started about that... person!

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    2. Keep your fingers crossed for tulips!

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  2. Now I want to know the sequels to all these mini-tales! Did the purple pretties fully bloom in time; did the bulb turn out to be a tulip – or what; how did the person you know respond to your poem and suggestion? Not to mention yummy details of all the fun of the sharing.

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    1. You shall find out what the bloom is as soon as I do. The purple pretties are blooming slowly--no pollinators yet. And "the person" hasn't replied, I suspect that no response will come my way. I shall let you know (perhaps, even writer about it) if a response comes.

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  3. The power of dirt under polished nails is nothing to be sniffed at CWS XXX

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  4. What a joyful post, Magaly! I’m ashamed to say I haven’t done any planting yet and I’m envious of your shoots and young leaves. Bring on the butterflies – I’ve already seen my first (very large) bumble bee and we’ve had ladybirds inside the house! I love that the mystery bulb from sone else’s trash has grown and hope it blooms into something wonderful.

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    1. I am so glad you enjoy these bits, Kim, because I so delight in writing them and sharing them. You have plenty of time to grow things. And I bet you will. And I, too, hope the mystery bulb blooms into something magnificent--mayhap, a tulip *cough*!

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  5. Clearly you have a lot of fun in your life. Even I in my dotage happily have a balcony with various plants growing season sometimes flowers sometimes vegetable depending what caught my eye in the garden centre I visit. Yes, I talk to plants too so they can bloom with pride or provide me with tomatoes or whatever.

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    1. Planting and tending and loving a wee garden feeds the wild child within, methinks. And of course you talk to plants, dear Robin. Every brilliant person knows that talking to plants is the closest we'll ever get to sing with Nature!

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  6. Happy Sunday Happy Spring

    (✿◠‿◠)
    much love

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    1. I think I just heard my garden chorus, "We shall!"

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  8. Sometimes truth hides in plain sight, unlike buried bodies!

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  9. stereotype harms. education is key. strong write, have to get it off the chest, right? lucky you have lovely plants to calm you. wonder what that mystery bulb will grow into.

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    1. Education is key, indeed, since the world has enough ignorance to drown us all. And I, too, love that I have my lovely plants for balance. In a world with so much bad, growing a little good is a delight. And about the mystery bulb... 🤞🏽🌷

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  10. You didn't need to make yourself a garden.
    Maga, you have always been a garden

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    1. Oh, my sweetest Lori, you've always known me well. How I have missed you, my dearest friend. I keep on telling me myself that I must go back to Facebook. Maybe it's time...

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  11. Smiling ... the mystery thing looks likes asparagus!! I purchased five pots of primroses yesterday, the salesperson promised they would survive a 'light freeze' ... fingers crossed.

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    1. Ha! Now I'm craving asparagus (I hope I don't start looking at Mystery Bulb with hunger in my eyes, lol). You know, I keep on telling myself that I will get or grow a primrose plant. Let me know how they do with a "light freeze".

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    2. 28 degrees ~~~ looking perky this morning!!!

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  12. You are such a delight, Magaly. The "person" knows not her own ignorance, and her smug superiority is offensive (to say the least). My goodness, I hope Helen is wrong and your mystery bulb isn't asparagus! I do so hope it is a beautiful blooming reward for your rescue!

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    1. Thank you, Bev. And I totally agree about the "person", some people are just too full of themselves to leave room for the acknowledgment of their own idiocy.

      Also, I'm almost certain that Mystery Bulb isn't a asparagus, lol!

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  13. I wish I could make a corpse grow, to pull life from the dead. Unfortunately I have a black thumb, if it grows it is without my help. But still, I try. And sometimes things grow that I didn't plant and that is just as wild and amazing to me as well.

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    1. This is the second time today that someone says something about growing a corpse--the first time was on Instagram, where a friend said she was growing a zombie ginger. I love it when things grow by themself. They feel like a surprise.

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  14. I hope you find a joyous surprise from your Mystery Bulb. You've been able to get some green for a while now and I think you deserve a fine bright color for rescuing the corpse.

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  15. I love this post! I can't wait to see what your mystery plant is!
    "Racist in denial"!!!!! OMGGG!!!!
    Big Hugs!!!

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    1. I'm still waiting for my dear mystery plant. She's taking her time!

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