slipping soft into mystery

You know how sometimes the wishes your heart makes
fall so deep into soil,
covered over tight
like dormant little seeds,
bulging with aliveness
but so buried and forgotten
over the years since you ached them out
that it feels like finding a tearfully lost childhood treasure
just perched there,
along the shoulder of some unfamiliar road
as you’re driving by
and an ancient wistfulness turns your head
and the secret prayer you dreamed
is. just. sitting. there,
this haunting bloom
…heaven winking right at you with twinkling eyes

and it’s so much sweeter than when your heart whispered it out
because while the seed soaked and slept,
you softened
and your fear died
and the blossom bursts brighter
than a cherry lemon sundrop on a blister-hot day

and you pull over and climb out on this lonely country road,
your heart pounding over finding it here
as if it’s been waiting for you all along
and you turn around quick,
expecting someone in skin

but hear only crickets and the soft rustle of evening leaves
and  some old song droning on the radio
and you can’t even think in “thank you”
because you’re wrapped so thick in mystery
that you just have to wear it
until the wonder climbs inside you
and becomes a part of the smile
that is the only word you can find.

You know how that is?

What if you let your heart remember forward
until it slips soft into the mystery
already in the making.

It’s nice in here.

33 Comments

  1. rachel awes on June 3, 2012 at 5:35 pm

    it certainly is nice in here, friend.
    love all your photos + hands full of mystery n dreams.
    xox

  2. Kel on June 3, 2012 at 6:17 pm

    “expecting someone in skin” is the line which grabbed me
    and the image of the plums in your hand
    two types of skin
    flesh and fruit

  3. Georgianna on June 3, 2012 at 6:26 pm

    Hi Jennifer, Wonderful blog! What a bright, breath of fresh air. Thanks again for stopping by!

    Georgianna

  4. lisleman on June 3, 2012 at 8:24 pm

    Wow – delicious words and pictures. Do you eat words and phrases?

  5. Barbara on June 3, 2012 at 8:46 pm

    Your words weave magic and mystery and beauty and wistful dreams. Thank you, sweet lady!

  6. beth on June 3, 2012 at 9:04 pm

    “until the wonder climbs inside you”…….that line is how i try to live my life.
    to find wonder everywhere i go and to let it settle within me….like a child 🙂
    xo

  7. Bren on June 4, 2012 at 7:36 am

    Powerful, moving, inspiring. You move us with your words, you take us to those places in us all, we feel the brush of your words/images against our insides and come away the better for it.

  8. Nancy on June 4, 2012 at 8:18 am

    Once spoken, your words do touch a deep place in us all and help us to see things we couldn’t express on our own….I hope your day reaps a full harvest of blessings…..

  9. Marjie Kemper on June 4, 2012 at 9:01 am

    I don’t have the words to tell you how much this has moved me. Jennifer, with your permission, may I use your words in my art and share them on my blog?

  10. JBR on June 4, 2012 at 3:07 pm

    Cannot say enough about your messages which are so timely and inspiring. Beautiful. Blessings.

  11. Kathy on June 4, 2012 at 8:00 pm

    Slip forward… I really am liking this. I love the feel of your words. I think this is a super favorite, Jennifer. It’s nice in here.

  12. Lynn on June 5, 2012 at 6:41 am

    Aaaaaahhhhh…. That felt good!

  13. elk on June 5, 2012 at 10:39 am

    thank you for sharing your heart ~~ there is such a special rhythm to your words and photos!

  14. Alida on June 5, 2012 at 11:35 am

    Beautiful…powerful…thank you!

  15. Naomi on June 5, 2012 at 4:09 pm

    What GORGEOUS and vibrant photographs! Love them!

  16. kathry on June 5, 2012 at 4:50 pm

    while the seed soaked and slept,
    you softened
    and your fear died
    and the blossom bursts brighter
    than a cherry lemon sundrop on a blister-hot day

    i reread this quite a few times…i just love those words and the image in my head…you’re amazing!!

  17. Christina on June 6, 2012 at 8:46 am

    i have found such a lovely nook to ease into this morning. i can’t thank you enough for that.
    i adore you.
    xo

  18. jean on June 6, 2012 at 9:15 am

    beeee utifulll!!! your photos are gorgeous and inviting!! i’m jealous that you have a plum tree…xo happy wednesday to you, jennifer!! 🙂

  19. Mom on June 6, 2012 at 3:31 pm

    Beautiful, Jen, just beautiful!!

  20. Poetic chronicles on June 6, 2012 at 5:24 pm

    So far I’m wrapped in your words, and that’s one of the mysteries I love to slip into 🙂

  21. sharon leaf on June 7, 2012 at 1:27 am

    at 2:20am, these words wrap me in a snuggly blanket, brings peace to my soul and forces me to move away from my computer and tip-toe back to my warm bed. Thank you, Jen, and good-night … or should I say good-morning … yawn …

  22. donna on June 7, 2012 at 7:01 am

    you write in pictures and your pictures tell stories. xxx

  23. Amy Kelsch on June 7, 2012 at 10:23 am

    Jennifer:
    I just can’t get over how wonderful you are! You have such a gift! Thank you for doing what you do!

  24. leslie on June 7, 2012 at 10:40 am

    your garden seems to be full of dreams…

  25. S. Etole on June 7, 2012 at 12:33 pm

    I almost missed this wonder …

    I’m reminded of the peony buds I picked too soon. Eager to see them bloom, I brought them in the house where they remain unopened … picked before their time.

  26. Nupur on June 7, 2012 at 11:56 pm

    It’s lovely to be here! You have a great way with words:):) and pictures speak volumes.

  27. Susan on June 8, 2012 at 12:45 am

    “…until the wonder climbs inside you
    and becomes a part of the smile
    that is the only word you can find….”

    Ahhhh…you have the gift, my friend. You have the gift. xo

  28. Kathy Anne on June 8, 2012 at 8:29 am

    and an ancient wistfulness turns your head
    and the secret prayer you dreamed
    is. just. sitting. there,
    this haunting bloom
    …heaven winking right at you with twinkling eyes…
    A word that comes to mind. Believe.
    Thank you, k

  29. jeanie on June 10, 2012 at 7:46 am

    My friend — how in the world do you think of such wonderful words as “remember forward” — Oh, I’ve been trying to do that, but I never could crystallize what that meant. You have such a gift, Jen. Not just for words, although the expression is flawless and important. But most of all, for the feeling and the vision and inspiration that allows those thoughts to exist and grow in the first place. Then come the words. Thank you.

  30. LindyLouMacinItaly on June 10, 2012 at 1:41 pm

    Oh yes it is so nice in here, I felt myself relaxing as I read this post.

  31. Naomi on June 11, 2012 at 10:02 am

    I just love those blue glass bottles! Gorgeous pictures.

  32. Sue on June 12, 2012 at 6:04 am

    I’m a little late in reading this but well worth it! What a wonderful way to start my day, thanks for sharing!

  33. Relyn on June 16, 2012 at 12:36 pm

    that it feels like finding a tearfully lost childhood treasure
    just perched there,

    I had forgotten that feeling. Thank you.

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