Maid with the Flaxen Hair (Background Music – click to listen)
On my recent visit to Barbados, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the home in which I would be staying was in a pastoral setting. From the moment I saw the cows grazing in the green pastures, a certain peaceful feeling descended upon me.
My excitement was palpable. I hadn’t seen cows this close for many years and had no idea that my thoughts would turn to Thoreau and his experience at Walden Pond. He was deliberate in his experiment but the Universe smiled on me by allowing me this peaceful adventure and time with the cows. “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms.”
The cows looked so healthy, happy, and contented, with just the green grass and a bucket of water left for them. When they were tired, they sat down. My aunt and I sat down on a bench one day and just enjoyed ourselves with the cows. It brought me to the realization that we don’t need all the material things that we thing we need in order for extraordinary happiness to fill our hearts. A simple thing like sitting on a bench with beautiful breezes blowing and the sight of cows grazing in green grass proved to be enough – for that moment.
Another image that came to mind in my precious time with the cows was that of the Psalm of David in which he said: “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.” My thoughts had not turned to that Psalm for years. The imagery already existed within me from hearing the Psalm many times before but truly came to life here.
Last, but not least, believe it or not, the other image that already existed within me and that came to mind was that of Tom Jones (who was a favourite of mine) singing “Green Green Grass of Home.” He didn’t mention anything about cows here but the green grass imagery and home were tucked away in this old brain somewhere. I was born in the tropics although not in Barbados. These are the lyrics to the song:
“Green Green Grass Of Home”
Down the lane I walk with my sweet Mary, hair of gold and lips like cherries. It’s good to touch the green, green grass of home. Yes, they’ll all come to meet me, arms reaching, smiling sweetly. It’s good to touch the green, green grass of home.
[spoken:]
Then I awake and look around me, at the four grey walls that surround me and I realize, yes, I was only dreaming. For there’s a guard and there’s a sad old padre – arm in arm we’ll walk at daybreak. Again I touch the green, green grass of home. Yes, they’ll all come to see me in the shade of that old oak tree as they lay me neath the green, green grass of home.
We just never know in life what wonderful surprises and adventures are in store for us. I travelled to Barbados for a wedding – which was absolutely beautiful – and also had these thoughts and memories tickle my mind. Thank you cows!
Enjoy the collages!