Saturday, April 7, 2012

A Spring Birthday


A Spring Birthday

Although at 5’6” I could hardly be considered short, I have still sometimes wondered what it just might be like to be taller.  Really tall, as it get-things-off-the-top-shelf-without-assistance kind of tall.  Might be fun.  I have also, on occasion, wondered if the world might look different if I could gaze at it through brown eyes instead of blue.  Would the colours be a bit deeper, do you suppose?  Would sunlight feel stronger shining down on brown hair instead of the blonde locks that have always been mine?  
However there is one line of my biography that I have never even entertained a quick thought about changing.  That is the date of my birthday.  I have always adored having a spring birthday, one that often falls so close to Easter, as is the case this year.  I simply love sharing my birthday with bunnies and lilies, chocolate eggs and new hats.   Today I received a card from an old friend that said,  "I am fairly certain that given a cape and a nice tiara, I could save the world."  Having a birthday that falls smack dab in the most beautiful weekend of springtime always makes me feel just like that.
Tomorrow is my birthday and Edward and I will be outdoors in all the beauty of Spring from morning till night.  And as a birthday gift to all of you, I’m sharing one of my favourite poems.  By Mary Oliver, of course.  
Happy Easter to you all.
Morning Poem
Every morning
the world
is created. 
Under the orange 
sticks of the sun
the heaped
ashes of the night
turn into leaves again 
and fasten themselves to the high branches ---
and the ponds appear
like black cloth
on which are painted islands 
of summer lilies. 
If it is your nature
to be happy
you will swim away along the soft trails 
for hours, your imagination
alighting everywhere. 
And if your spirit
carries within it 
the thorn
that is heavier than lead ---
if it's all you can do
to keep on trudging --- 
there is still
somewhere deep within you
a beast shouting that the earth
is exactly what it wanted --- 
each pond with its blazing lilies
is a prayer heard and answered
lavishly, 
every morning, 
whether or not
you have ever dared to be happy, 
whether or not
you have ever dared to pray.

26 comments:

  1. Pamela,

    Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you...and happy Easter.

    I hope that you have a fabulous outdoor celebration with Edward, apple, and the Songwriter.

    enjoy and best wishes for many, many, more.

    Elizabeth

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  2. Happy Birthday! I love that you wondered if the world would look different through different color eyes, such an interesting thing to ponder! Hope its lovely weather for you and Edward this weekend!

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  3. Happy Birthday Pamela!
    It was mine on the 5th (I don't tell many folk, you are honoured!).

    Thanks for the poem.

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  4. A very Happy Spring Birthday to you! I was a May baby, and April and May are magical months to me.
    Enjoy!

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  5. Sweet friend, happy birthday and many healthy returns!!! May you be happy throughout the year to come! You are a golden girl!
    And a happy Easter to you, the Songwriter, Edward and Apple!

    My daughter almost shares the day with you, this time her b-day falls exactly on Easter Sunday! Double dipper!

    xoxo Victoria

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  6. Many, many happy returns of the day Pamela.
    Wishing you the most wonderful day and a happy and peaceful Easter weekend. Much love. XXXX

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  7. A very Happy Birthday Pamela. Enjoy your day outdoors.

    The poem is beautiful too, thank you for bringing so much beauty and joy to blogTOPIA.

    HAPPY EASTER

    Helenxx

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  8. Oh, happy birthday and Easter - what a joyous time you will have :).

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  9. Happy Springtime Birthday my dear friend Pamela. You have been more of an inspiration to me than you will ever know!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  10. Wishing you a delightful birthday month! I too was born in this lovely month, and was given the name of a springtime flower : )

    Happy Joyful Easter!
    ~ Violet

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  11. Happy Birthday!

    And a Happy Easter too.

    Have a wonderful weekend, all round. :)

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  12. How glorious to celebrate your birthday on Easter Day .

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  13. Happy, happy birthday Pamela, I hope the weather is (or was, I am never sure!!) beautiful for you and Edward. xx

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  14. Happy birthday, Pamela. Happy Easter too. I hope you and Edward have a wonderful celebration!

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  15. Happy, happy birthday!! Around here if your birthday is in April, there could very well be a little snow!

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  16. beautiful words hope you have the Happiest of Days today and Edward too!

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  17. Happy birthday and happy Easter to you Pamela. Isn't it nice to have a birthday on a day you are pleased with. Mine is at the opposite end of the year, but is on Hallowe'en and I would not change it for the world. Have a lovely day.

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  18. Sending you warm wishes for a grand birthday and a very Happy Easter.

    Katie
    www.westiejulep.blogspot.com
    p.s...my b'day is the 10th and I love being a child of spring

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  19. Wishing you a wonderful day Pamela!

    Buzzy, Pip and Camille

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  20. happy birthday most enchanting spring girl!
    may you have many many many more!
    love,
    tammy j

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  21. Happy Birthday! Enjoy your day, your month even.
    What a lovely poem, thank you.
    Karen

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  22. Beautiful poems. And the picture which really struck me was the dark green path winding through the trees. That is so unusual and rather magical.

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  23. The poems are wonderful, all my favorite poets, and such a fitting Mary Oliver for your birthday, which is now over but, as I grow older, I like to celebrate the whole month long, so Happy Birthday Pamela.

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I love to read your comments! Each and every one! Though I'm always reading your comments, I may not respond in the comment section. If you want to write me directly, you may do so at pamela@pamelaterry.net. Thank you for reading!