A CELEBRATION
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middle-northern March, now as always--gusts from the south broken against cold winds--but from under, as if a slow hand lifted a tide,it moves--not into April--into a second March,the old skin of wind-clear scales droppingupon the mould: this is the shadow projects the treeupward causing the sun to shine in his sphere. So we will put on our pink felt hat--new last year!--newer this by virtue of brown eyes turning backthe seasons--and let us walk to the orchid-house,see the flowers will take the prize to-morrowat the Palace.Stop here, these are our oleanders.When they are in bloom--You would waste wordsIt is clearer to me than if the pinkwere on the branch. It would be a searching ina coloured cloud to reveal that which now, huskless,shows the very reason for their being. And these the orange-trees, in blossom--no needto tell with this weight of perfume in the air.If it were not so dark in this shed one could bettersee the white.It is that very perfumehas drawn the darkness down among the leaves.Do I speak clearly enough?It is this darkness reveals that which darkness aloneloosens and sets spinning on waxen wings--not the touch of a finger-tip, not the motionof a sigh. A too heavy sweetness provesits own caretaker.And here are the orchids!Never having seensuch gaiety I will read these flowers for you:This is an odd January, died--in Villon's time.Snow, this is and this the stain of a violetgrew in that place the spring that foresaw its own doom. And this, a certain July from Iceland:a young woman of that placebreathed it toward the south. It took root there.The colour ran true but the plant is small. This falling spray of snowflakes isa handful of dead Februarysprayed into flower by Rafael Arevalo Martinezof Guatemala.Here's that old friend whowent by my side so many years: this full, fragilehead of veined lavender. Oh that Aprilthat we first went with our stiff lustsleaving the city behind, out to the green hill--May, they said she was. A hand for all of us:this branch of blue butterflies tied to this stem. June is a yellow cup I'll not name; Augustthe over-heavy one. And here are--russet and shiny, all but March. And March?Ah, March--Flowers are a tiresome pastime.One has a wish to shake them from their potsroot and stern, for the sun to gnaw. Walk out again into the cold and saunter hometo the fire. This day has blossomed long enough.I have wiped out the red night and lit a blazeinstead which will at least warm our handsand stir up the talk.I think we have kept fair time.Time is a green orchid.
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