September 22, 2023
One of our greatest gifts is the ability to be surprised by wonder . . . and to pay attention to it.
Hydrangeas in September
You don’t expect it
not in September when the leaves
are beginning their turning
and hummingbirds prepare
to migrate south.
You don’t expect it
while red squirrels scurry
to bury nuts
in your summer potted plants,
and monarchs flit in swaying switchgrass.
Yet there can be no mistaking
the tight-knitted buds
appearing on green branches
thought dead or at the very least
barren.
You don’t expect that here
in September
when evening comes earlier
that the hydrangeas, against the dusk,
are blooming,
capped with gentle webs of pastel pink
and dawn blue blossoms
of color, of wonder.
You don’t expect to find
life at the advent of death
in a spring bouquet defying
winter’s brutal freeze
and summer’s torrid drought,
hydrangeas rising to shine
against the burnt and muted
tones of fall.
And you wonder
at the message.
Hydrangeas are blooming
in September.
(c) Rosemary McMahan
Photo credit: Rosemary McMahan
Spirit Reflections 
Rosemary, I think the last line of your beautiful and thought provoking poem above is missing a last line! In the email version, your last line makes me pause and wonder at choice making. You write, “When what should have died chose otherwise”. I appreciate this reflection as I think I too can choose a life in goodness, kindness and compassion. Thank you for this poem which gives much to reflect and rejoice in🙏❤️. C
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That is odd. In what I am looking at, the last line is “Hydrangeas are blooming
in September.” The line you quote was in the original version but I deleted it from the blog. At any rate, I am glad it spoke to you.
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