William Ellery Channing’s beautiful wisdom in his poem “My Symphony” spoke to me this morning. Well, not literally. Poetry doesn’t speak…it was more of a resonating moment. 😊
At 4:30 am, with all the windows open, the earliest of early birds began their morning revelry. I’m terrible at identifying birdsongs but I suspect I heard wrens, blackbirds, chickadees and doves, all chiming in together to herald the new day.
Perhaps in a month or two I will regret saying this, but I’ve missed the joyful chirping. Winter, this year was especially long and inordinately gray. Now that we’ve had a taste of spring in the central U.S., I don’t want to turn back, close up, shut the windows. I want to hear every chirping nuance, even at the literal crack of dawn.
My mother-in-law famously dictated that one window in one’s bedroom needed to be open ‘a smidge’ even in the dead of winter. She was a proponent of fresh air to cure all ills and I can’t say that she was wrong. I believe. And when the night air lingers at 60 degrees or higher, the hubster and I cheer because it’s time to pile on blankets so we can open the windows a little more…or fully (as was the case last night).
When the birds began their morning songs today, I decided to get up, enjoy the cool air as I padded around on the deck watching the first hints of daylight. My coffee gave off whispering tendrils of steam, curling and bending and then wafting around in the early light.
I was still enough that two mourning doves popped by, sauntering along the deck railing, unbothered by my presence. I imagined we gave one another a polite nod to say ‘good day’ as they regarded me but continued their purposeful constitutional.
Then I saw a family of red-winged blackbirds circling the cherry tree. No, I thought, no fruit yet, but stick with us…the sweet morsels are coming, as evidenced by the tiny blossoms and buds beginning to form.
Channing’s words feel like a tonic, …” think quietly, talk gently…to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with an open heart…”. Yes. Quite the ‘symphony’ indeed, and a bit of wisdom that I’d like to carry through this day, and every day, to “live content”.
Good day to you…from me and from my cheery morning friends.
Vicki 💗
Victoria Ponders 
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