Jul 26 2024
Lynn Ungar – Camas Lilies
Camas Lilies
by Lynn Ungar
Consider the lilies of the field,
the blue banks of camas
opening into acres of sky along the road.
Would the longing to lie down
and be washed by that beauty
abate if you knew their usefulness,
how the natives ground their bulbs
for flour, how the settlers’ hogs
uprooted them, grunting in gleeful
oblivion as the flowers fell?
And you — what of your rushed
and useful life? Imagine setting it all down —
papers, plans, appointments, everything —
leaving only a note: “Gone
to the fields to be lovely. Be back
when I’m through with blooming.”
Even now, unneeded and uneaten,
the camas lilies gaze out above the grass
from their tender blue eyes.
Even in sleep your life will shine.
Make no mistake. Of course
your work will always matter.
Yet Solomon in all his glory
was not arrayed like one of these.
— from Bread and Other Miracles, by Lynn Ungar
/ Image by https://unsplash.com/@dynamiclx /
A lovely reminder to us– Being useful is useful. And sometimes we must rush. But our real gift to the world is not what we do, but what we are.
leaving only a note: “Gone
to the fields to be lovely. Be back
when I’m through with blooming.”
Have a beautiful day!
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| Bread and Other Miracles | Poetry of Presence: An Anthology of Mindfulness Poems | Blessing the Bread: Meditations | ||
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Lynn Ungar
US (Contemporary) |
Lynn Ungar’s first book of poetry, Blessing the Bread, earned her fans around the world. In her professional life she serves as a minister for the Church of the Larger Fellowship, an online congregation for Unitarian Universalists and other religious liberals. In her free time she trains dogs for competition in obedience, agility and canine musical freestyle (dancing with dogs). She is also an avid singer and contra dancer. Lynn lives on the east side of the San Francisco Bay with her wife, teenaged daughter, two dogs and a cat.
~ from lynnungar.com
Really like this poem.
Thank You, Ivan. I agree with Mike – really like this poem!