Thursday, March 8, 2012

A Bride of Amazement

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This post was going to be about grief and loss. It’s two years this week since some of us lost a dear friend, Miss R. By the way she lived, Miss R affected many enabling us to become better people. But then I found Mary Oliver’s poem, When Death Comes, and I knew Miss R would love it. This is the way she lived and wanted us to live - as ‘Brides of Amazement’.

When death comes
like the hungry bear in autumn;
when death comes and takes all the bright coins from his purse

to buy me, and snaps the purse shut:
when death comes
like the measles - pox;

when death comes
like an iceburg between the shoulder blades,

I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering:
what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?

And therefore I look upon everything
as a brotherhood and a sisterhood,
and I look upon time as no more than an idea,
as I consider eternity as another possibility,

and I think of each life as a flower, as common
as a field daisy, and as singular,

and each name a comfortable music in the mouth
tending as all music does, toward silence,

and each body a lion of courage, and something
precious to the earth.

When it's over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was a bridegroom taking the world into my arms.

When it's over, I don't want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.

I don't want to find myself sighing and frightened
or full of argument.

I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.

And I think she’d want us to dress up too. As a Bride of Amazement I think this veil would be lovely. I know I wouldn’t want to do the whole big wedding thing but a nod to conventionality wouldn’t hurt would it, particularly when I’m quite smitten with this little number.

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from Gilded Shadows

I’d need a dress too. Nothing expensive. One I could explore in and not worry about it getting crumpled when I lay in the grass to gaze at my partner, Amazement. This dress is perfect and it’s only $55.

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from Kitty Girl Vintage

Boots, yes I’d need boots. Comfy, yes, but cute as well, so Amazement and I could stroll together through different terrains.

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from The Vintage Voice

No I don’t think I’d bother with a ring. Much better to have a useful trinket like this magnifying glass pendant. Amazement and I would get a lot of use out of this.

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from Rachel Loves Coffee

And of course as a Bride of Amazement, just as Miss R was, goodness would come more easily don’t you think?

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11 comments:

Couture Carrie said...

Lovely tribute and selections!
That gown is gorgeous!

xoxox,
CC

Queen of the Tea Cosies said...

Beautiful.

kj said...

oh jeez, chrisy: our renee.....

like you, i will never ever ever forget her. i feel her incredible presence still.

mary oliver has recently been diagnosed with a serious illness. makes this poem even more poignant.

two very wise women, renee and mary...

love
kj

Katrina Jackson said...

I remember Renee. What a beautiful tribute to her this post was. I want to print out that poem and hang it in my house so I can always remember to be a "Bride of Amazement". And goosebumps? Thanks for returning the favor.

Hot Fudge said...

Renee must have been a remarkable person and I am sure she would have loved the beautiful poem in tribute to her - I know I would. Oh, and I think the veil is divine.

Yvonne said...

Beautiful tribute, Chrisy!

Anonymous said...

I didn't know Miss R but you have made a wonderful tribute to her memory. She must have been a lovely person with a great sense of humour--like you, perhaps?

Unknown said...

Very nice!

Deann said...

This is too beautiful Christy...where ever she is Miss Renee has to be smiling to have been so loved.
Thank you for your lovely comment on The Whimsey Asylum...no I don't take reservations but you are more then welcome to visit as often as you like and stay as long as you want...friends are always welcome.

Taluula said...

A lovely piece, Christy.

Colleen said...

She sounded like quite an inspiration! If only more of us lived happily and sought fulfillment.