― Czesław Miłosz, The Issa Valley
Another colouring page finished! What good use could this be put to? This could be used for sharing poetry – my father’s. It’s no accident that this desire to share and remember should take place at this time. After all, we remembered five days ago that he’s been gone fifteen years. He would love his poetry on a page that I had coloured – he was that type of man! I remember when I started to learn to play the accordion shortly before he died – and he told me that he listened when I was practicing and how many pieces I could play – and there was a pride in his voice. I didn’t show my appreciation as much as I should have at the time. I understand now why it was important for him to say these things.
This poem was the one we chose for the cover of the Order of Service for his funeral. It does make sense. We’re all on this journey called life and there is an end to the journey for each and every one of us. How must we live in the in-between? I believe it is with welcome in our hearts. Don’t those flowers look great? I wish that I had started colouring way back in time – maybe the Order of Service would have looked something like this.
This short poem is a favourite of mine. Many times when I aspire to “greatness,” this poem reminds me that it’s alright if I go along life’s pathway unnoticed. What the Master plan is, I don’t know, but I have to trust that there is one. My flowers provide a lovely backdrop to “Little Wayside Flower” and I’m glad that, although I didn’t plan it, it’s worked out this way. Colouring pages can come in useful.
Thank you for all the poems and letters, Daddy! You couldn’t have left us a better gift.