for Jenny Ratigan
on her “retirement”
The kiss of the sun for pardon
The song of the birds for mirth
You are nearer God’s heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.
from a cross-stitch sampler
I remember hanging
in my grandmother’s living room–
attributed to author unknown
Jenny:
It is September now:
The days are shorter, sweeter;
the insect chorus shriller.
The harvest has begun
(although there will be corn and beans
and peppers, warm-juiced
tomatoes, great pot-belied melons
bursting in the sun
until the frost–
and even then
the vegetables of winter–
potatoes, greens, pumpkins in bright profusion,
fat cabbages and raucous rutabagas
will defy the cold.)
It’s time to gather in.
Done those uncertain early days of planting;
so too the weeks, the seasons, years
spent striving, sweating, struggling
(like Mary Quite Contrary)
helping the garden grow.
Late summer storms
silently streaking
across the darkened sky–
dramatic, frightening
harbingers
(or so it sometimes seemed)
have mostly passed.
The harvest moon is out;
it’s time to gather in.
The periodic droughts that cracked the earth
rest brought by cooling breezes in the night
and then the softly falling rains
have grounded you.
The cycle of the changing seasons bears no threat
and, holding Henry
you understand with crystal clarity
that love can never die.
Your roots stretch long and deep.
You’re clearer now and (always gentle), gentler.
There’s nothing you need prove.
This golden time is yours.
The harvest moon is out;
it’s time to gather in.
It is September now.
The latest crop of clueless college students
will have to find their way
without your patient counsel.
Still, how many lives
are forever changed
for having known you.
And us as well–
your family, fans and friends–
how deeply you have touched us
how openly you’ve shared
both pain and pleasure–
hard to say (not really) which bears
the greater grace. Let us be here for you now.
This golden time is yours;
the harvest moon is out.
It’s time to gather in.
So let’s raise a cheer; September’s here–
And–oh yes–Jamie’s getting married!
karenblenz September 2003