It's still only May but summer is arriving early as we speak. The weather this week has been magnificent with clear blue skies, occasional fluffy white clouds floating lazily along, and warm afternoons in the 80s. I pulled the seat and back cushions for the patio chairs out of the garage and set them up without even being asked/told to. I retrieved the collapsible umbrella for the patio table from its spot next to the 8-ft. ladder and set it up as well. Mrs. RWP and I have enjoyed coffee and cookies in the pleasant surroundings more than once while songbirds in the trees filled the air with their music.
It's easy to believe that no war is occurring in the Ukraine, no starvation in third-world countries, no mass shootings in Buffalo grocery stores, no deaths from Covid-19, no forest fires in California. Our afternoon reverie is other-worldly. We count our blessings, which this month include two grandchildren graduating from university summa cum laude. The only things missing are streets of gold, gates of pearl, walls of jasper. We are bathed in peace and happiness.
The feeling is short-lived as a police or ambulance siren wails in the distance and we are returned to reality with a jolt. The world is once again a place filled with sorrow and pain, violence and subterfuge, deceit, disease, disaster, and death. We gather up our cups and go back into the house.
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day. Somebody famous said that nearly half a millenium ago and it is still true. Life, such as it is, goes on. Babies are born, pets die, lunar eclipses occur. It never stops.
Robert Browning probably said it best: A man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a Heaven for?
I hear you Bob and it certainly doesn't help when we have multiple mass shootings in just one weekend not to mention so many other things going on. It is easy to feel helpless against all these things. I try to reach out to others in kindness and goodwill and I hope they in turn will do the same to everyone they see. If we all do this then we can help make a peaceful and kind world, one person at a time. I know it sounds like a fairy tale but at least we can try. I hope you and Mrs. RWP are well.
ReplyDeleteBonnie, one person at a time will take an awfully long time but it is the only way. If each one reaches one, eventually everyone will get it.
DeleteI've just read this with my breakfast. "Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day." is an interesting statement and possibly a desirable state of affairs too.
ReplyDeletePerhaps RB's comment is more a reflection of several things: Man's dissatisfaction with his lot and his greed always to have more. It could be just a question of which words are used.
Graham, I had to go back and read Browning's poem "Andrea del Sarto" in its entirety (for context) after receiving your thought-provoking comment.
DeleteWith regard to your penultimate paragraph (second to last) that "somebody famous" was I believe a little-known fellow from Warwickshire in England called William Shakespeare. Happy to have been of service sir.
ReplyDeleteNeil, I actually knew it was William Shakespeare, that's how I knew it was nearly half a millennium ago. And you didn't need to define penultimate for me, either. Once a teacher, always a teacher, I suppose. My favo(u)rite character in all of literature is Uncle Remus's wife, Auntie Penultimate (that's a joke).
DeleteI thought I commented here. Never mind, it was not at all substantial
ReplyDeletekylie, nothing ventured, nothing gained?
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