At dVerse Lillian is hosting Haibun with an invitation to write about something personal in regards to a new beginning, and to include a seasonal reference in the Haiku. dVerse Poets – https://dversepoets.com/2021/01/04/happy-new-year-2/
“Gardening is an instrument of grace.” May Sarton
I Remember
Sometimes old tricks return, seemingly of their own volition. The mind puts on front, suggesting that it never forgets, but it does. Sometimes old tricks are left in dark corners simply because their pleasure faded. And sometimes old tricks return, not by will, but by motion rooted in embodied memory. To once again pick up spade and shears, to don hat and gloves and fold into the joy of memories turning soil.
The joy of a garden is so primal, so simple, yet so profoundly felt. To rejoin my elders in time honoured pleasure is a rediscovery that refreshes my soul. Sanatorium, health-spa, surgery, clinic, call it what you will, it is healing in every way.
And that’s the thing, remembering. Remembering is a strange thing, a rebuilding, putting back together what has been lost though not forgotten. It’s in the word itself. To remember is to re-member, to narratively, even practically, put that past back together in some semblance of knowing. There’s a host of saints in my collection of dearly departed who taught me to garden and impassioned my green spirit. And, as I lift my spade and plunge in rhythmic moves, I fondly recall them one by one in this eden.
Chocolate tilth sits fertile in my memory, transcending seedtime. ©Paul Vincent Cannon
parallax 
This is beautiful. There is something enriching, cathartic, and life promoting about gardening. This time of year our seed catalogs come and we gardeners dream.
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Lovely
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Thank you Cheryl 🙂
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Those memories and passions live again! I don’t have a green thumb but I try and I especially love the way this line resonates …”The joy of a garden is so primal, so simple, yet so profoundly felt”.
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I think it’s the trying that makes it. I think it was Orson Welles who once said that gardening was all about learning from mistakes 🙂 or trial and error. Thank you Mish, I appreciate your thoughts her very much. Happy gardening.
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This is the line that resonated most with me: “Remembering is a strange thing, a rebuilding, putting back together what has been lost though not forgotten.” It’s the essense of story. As for gardening, I remember how my mother tried her best to garden. She could manage zucchini and lettuce but her tomatoes always ended up as “bullets.”
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Many thanks for sharing this slice Liz. It amazes me what we remember at different times, strange, because many would say – tomatoes are bullet proof (pun incidental) while lettuce is difficult. I think gardening is trial and error really, well in my case that’s true. Are you a gardener Liz?
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I like the idea of gardening, but leave the work of it to my husband.
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I have a memory that you’ve confessed this before, made me smile.
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That could very well be!
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🙂
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New growth, fresh beginning. 🌿🍃
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I love your post Paul! Gardening is good for the soul! It reminds us of where we came from and where we are going… It also reminds us of the joy in between! I love to get my hands in the soil and watch plants grow!
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Yes, there’s something whole and delightful about getting out into the garden. Thank you so much Dwight.
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True words. Remembering is rebuilding and it’s amazing to find the treasures we kept hidden.
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Yes, and I find it comes in conversation or activity, it rises in familiar moments.
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Your meditative narration is so soothing to the soul, I especially loved the line “There’s a host of saints in my collection of dearly departed who taught me to garden and impassioned my green spirit” I reread it again and again to savour it, thanks for sharing! ~ Jay
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Thank you so much for sharing this Jay, much appreciated. So glad it spoke to you.
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Lovely! Remembering is a strange thing, a rebuilding, putting back together what has been lost though not forgotten…. Good memories of people and incidences are blessings.
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They sure are, thank you Rupali
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‘A host of saints’ .. how lovely your garden grows/grew.
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Thank you Helen, yes indeed.
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So sorry to be late to reply here. Time has escaped me somehow with all of the events that have been occurring since I posted this prompt!
I LOVE the mulling over of the word re-member. I’ve never thought of it that way. Just an excellent observation and I enjoyed every bit of this haibun!
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Thank you so much Lillian, much appreciated thoughts.
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Wonderful Poem and Remembering is a strange thing, a rebuilding is something different😒
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Thank you so much for your thoughts on this, much appreciated.
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Beautiful – this poem caused me to remember those of my past that kindled my passion for gardening too
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Yes, those who gave us connection.
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