Love me…with all the abandon
Sanober Khan, author, A Thousand Flamingos
of a sudden wild rain.”
There is a stillness in the garden following heavy rainfall. When the earth endures weeks of heat, humidity, and the lack of rain, it is almost as if the soil and everything in it cry out silently. The plants are so starved, they are left without their melodic voices. They bend, they slant, they shrivel; they have lost their enthusiasm.
Even the bees are seeking relief. They aim for the hummingbird feeders (even though they are bee proof) to try to suck the nectar, or whatever stray puddle they might find. I keep the bird baths clean whenever possible not just for the birds, but for these bees, and the butterflies, and all the creatures who desire to quench their thirst.
But the morning after a rainfall, the plants are suddenly alive again. They even stretch their petals and stems toward the sun, the very item that seemed to have caused them grief. Now they are well and drunk on the droplets that nature intended to help them survive.
This morning, the birds are more joyful. The goldfinches sing mightily as they cling to the coneflowers or sage. The hummingbirds fly wildly and are, in fact, fighting with one another to dominate the overflowing nectar. And the bees seem to be favoring the flowers again and staying away from the feeders. The atmosphere is almost resuscitated.
And yet, despite the joyful tweets and hums and pollinator activity, the stillness remains. As though the earth is taking in its drink; as though it is appreciating its gift and is simply meditating on what the rain means for them.
The stillness, really, is for all of us. To reflect on the beauty we often take for granted, as if it will always be there, until it isn’t. Until it changes, darkens, and even dies. Until it is so barren we are all standing naked in the garden. It is then we realize: something is missing.
The sunshine glows upon the roses and zinnias, and the water droplets upon them sparkle. Soon the droplets will evaporate; the sun’s heat is already strengthening. We will need another rain to cover the earth, to replenish what that powerful glowing figure above seems to pull away. But for now, the mood is blissful and gratifying.
For now, the stillness is fulfilling.
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