"They seemed to have come from nowhere, the little clutch of pale shapes, half hidden beneath the tangle of tired brown stems and flat, damp last-year's leaves. A white so bright that porcelain would seem dull by their side. I like to imagine that one of those westward-slipping, clapping, whistling lapwings that whisk up the greyest skies had broken briefly from its whirling companions to drop off a secret new year gift. But it is not the season for nesting and, in any case these six white eggs are worryingly small, oddly elongated and rather perilously suspended. Had I been keeping a closer watch, I would have seen this quiet patch pierced by tips of green, spreading and whitening as the mornings passed. Today's thin cluster will be taller and fatter tomorrow, cracking open within days into perfectly balanced broken shells. The year is hatched in the unlikely undergrowth of January, despite grey skies, despite the puddles, mud and sodden fields, despite hard frosts and harder ponds, despite the snow, despite the falling snow."
Words from 'The Brief Life Of Flowers' by Fiona Stafford.
Not as much as a single flake of snow so far here this winter. I am wondering if and when we might have a snowfall. The book is a treat!
What a glorious piece of writing this is, Anna - you certainly find some gems! Sadly, we can't get complacent about this winter and its lack of snow yet...��
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy 😄 Yes it's definitely too early to write off snow as possibility. I would prefer that we had some. It somehow helps to define the season.
DeleteLovely picture of snowdrops. Mr S and I took advantage but still got caught by the rain, and venturing up the edge of the Mendips today came across two clumps of snowdrops. How the tract you quote sums up the moment. Angie Lewin who illustrates the cover happens to a favourtie artist of mine. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteOh what a joyous discovery Noelle. I thought that there might be more illustrations by Angie Lewin in the book but it was not to be.
DeleteThe life of flowers may be brief, thankfully they are in a cycle, giving us something to look forward to through out the year.
ReplyDeleteThat cycle is most reassuring Brian 😄
DeleteI have enjoyed your previous book recommendations. This one looks lovely. It is very reasonable on kindle, would I be missng out on lovely illustrations if I got the kindle edition?
ReplyDeleteOh I'm so glad that you have enjoyed the books I've mentioned Chloris. The book is light on illustrations (not to its detriment I hasten to add) and apart from the cover they are all in black and white. You would not be missing out if you went for the Kindle edition.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anna, I'll get it now.😁
ReplyDelete