PLEASURE: Meditation on a posy
The other day, a friend brought me a posy of sweet peas from her sister’s garden. The scent emanating from those small, beautiful flowers almost knocked me over: sweet, rich, unmistakable.
I placed the posy in a small vase and put it on the kitchen windowsill. That evening, while I was making supper, that scent wafted its way to me and, for a moment, I felt pure pleasure at the beauty and the bounty of nature represented by that small posy.
Pleasure. Smaller than happiness, bigger than fine, just right for this moment that came to me on the air.
The root of the word goes back to Middle English (plesir) and Old French (plaisir) meaning ‘please’ — as in, to please someone. Usually someone else, but sometimes ourself (in any way, in every way). The feeling of pleasure is maybe fleeting but the memory of that pleasure can linger long past the moment itself.
May your days be marked by sweet, rich, unmistakable pleasure and your life by its lingering memories.
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Land acknowledgement: I respectfully recognize that I live on the original lands of Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation.
Thank you for this
ReplyDeleteAnd may our own sweet smell of victory in November waft your way too
I will vote for that!!!! (if I could)
DeleteThat's me, Amanda.
DeleteAh, sweet peas. The scent of them is a sudden flash back to my grandmother's garden!
ReplyDeleteAh, yes. The power of a scent to bring forth a memory...
DeleteNothing sweeter than sweet peas. I feel that pleasure standing in my garden, well, usually standing at my window because if I'm IN my garden there's too much to do. :)
ReplyDeleteGood one, Barbara! I hope there is pleasure at least sometimes IN your garden for you, too.
DeleteI love the scent of sweet peas and how they intermingle among other flowers.
ReplyDelete