Come, fill the Cup, and in the Fire of Spring
The Winter Garment of Repentance fling:
The Bird of Time has but a little way
To fly — and Lo! the Bird is on the Wing.From the Rubaiyyat of Omar Khayyam (Edward Fitzgerald Trans.)
Hell yeah! Pour a tall, cool drink and toss those winter clothes on the bonfire and let’s celebrate!
I know it’s officially been Spring for a couple of weeks now, but the last few days have really got the sap flowing (so to speak)!
In the spring, when a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love… (thank you, Lord Tennyson).
The meat from the recent TX trip is all butchered, my body has recovered from the 3400 mile road trip, and I got a chance to get out on horseback yesterday and enjoy a nice ride in the hills on a sunny day. My mare was feeling it too, and we charged briskly up the hills until we were both panting and drenched in sweat… then we meandered along the ridgelines, enjoying the incredible weather.
In the process, I had a chance to observe nature as it should be on a beautiful spring day… turkeys strutting and gobbling, fresh pig rooting on the southern slope of a high ridge, deer grazing the new green grass, and a young couple copulating on a sunny hillside.
Oh yes, I’m sure they never expected someone to come riding over that hidden hilltop. Who was more surprised? That’s hard to say, but I tried to steer as wide a berth as I could, so as not to disturb them. Even so, I felt bad as I watched the mad scramble for the nearest items of clothing. I really hated to interrupt a beautiful thing. I mean, seriously, what better use of a lovely afternoon, a sunny meadow, and the energy of the lengthening day? (Equestrian interruptus?) And no, you perverts, I took no pictures!
As the pagan fertility celebrations begin in earnest over the next few weeks with Maypoles, rabbits, eggs, and other such symbolism, have the longer days and warmer temps got your blood rising? Anyone else feeling that restlessness, that stirring that makes us want to get out and dig our hands into the dirt and make things grow… or to get out and wander the wildlands, drenched in the aromas of the new life blossoming from every tree, bush, and blade of grass?
It’s Spring Fever, and it hits me hard every year. I bet I’m not the only one.
It’s May, it’s May the lusty month of May…….. not yet but close!
Reading your story, now I suddenly feel the urge to pull out my old recording of “Camelot” with Julie Andrews singing that song.
This post put a smile on my face Phillip, a very much needed smile in these troubled times.
Thanks a million!