Busy Week and a Poem by Emily Dickinson

August 23, 2013 by Elizabeth Melton Parsons 8 Comments

Sorry I haven’t been around to your blogs for the past few days. Took my son to move into his dorm Wednesday morning (wow, what a day that was) and then for the past couple of days I’ve been spring cleaning. A little late in the season for spring cleaning, but I needed something physical to keep me too busy to miss my son too much. It didn’t work, but the house looks nice.

What can I say about move in day at University–confusing, chaotic, rush hour in New York City, frustrating, annoying, lost, anger inducing, aggravating, hot, exhausting, thirsty, hungry, exciting, sad, happy. Yes it was all those things and more. We left at 7:00 AM and at 3:00 we’d managed to get at least three thirds of my son’s stuff in his room and unpacked. That’s eight hours with nothing to eat or drink. I grabbed my two sons and we walked down the street to the subway for a very late lunch/early dinner. After refueling, we sat in the courtyard of one of the buildings and chilled for awhile before I had to head out for the two hour drive home. It was a horrible/wonderful day. He’s there and from his texts and emails, he’s happy. So he’s happy, I’m happy.

Now you’ve read my sappy post, I’ll leave you with some lovely writing from one of my favorite poets.

 

A Bird came down the Walk —
He did not know I saw —
He bit an Angleworm in halves
And ate the fellow, raw,

And then he drank a Dew
From a convenient Grass —
And then hopped sidewise to the Wall
To let a Beetle pass —

He glanced with rapid eyes
That hurried all around —
They looked like frightened Beads, I thought —
He stirred his Velvet Head

Like one in danger, Cautious,
I offered him a Crumb
And he unrolled his feathers
And rowed him softer home —

Than Oars divide the Ocean,
Too silver for a seam —
Or Butterflies, off Banks of Noon
Leap, plashless as they swim.

–Emily Dickinson