after a night of chill, 50 degree rain, today there is clear golden morning light.
when i got in firewood, it was almost pleasant outside, so i skipped my early
coffee/computer rituals and went for a walk with my horse. i have been trying
to comfort rosa with long grooming sessions. for years, i was a massage therapist
and touch is one of the most healing thing for fright and pain. horse-buddies often
groom each-other and she has settled down slowly, relaxing from the shock.
now, we must both come to terms with our loss and
be companions in each-other’s healing.
we walked all over the fields and up the hill to the high spot, and the
persimmon grove.. it was their favorite spot for loafing in the shade
in summer, and gorging on sticky sweet wild fruit in early winter.
i had made a small grapevine wreath with bright trailing ribbons,
and i hung it on a high branch there. rosa is very gentle and she stood
right with me. from now on, our memorial to a wild free-spirited friend
will wave in the breeze.
rosa ambles alongside me like a dog; we came on back, and out into
my yard. she likes to walk around free, and pick at any tender green
grass she can find.
there was a whiff of ‘tea-olive’ [osmanthus sp.] in the air, the sweet scent from
such tiny flowers thoroughly permeates the moist cool atmosphere. i see a few
bright yellow flowers opening on the rock wall’s hedge of ‘chinese’ or ‘winter’ jasmine.
before long, the pale waxy blooms will cover the giant ‘winter honeysuckle’ bush
[lonicera fragrantissima] – so fragrant, it’s almost intoxicating!
this Christmas morning has been the most peaceful time i have felt,
after this long week, past.
it’s the spell of mild winters and redbirds and wild holly berries.
in almost every season rural georgia smells like flowers…
and then it will be february.
vty, j-lea
