The kiss of the sun for pardon,
the song of the birds for mirth,
one is nearer God’s Heart in a garden
than anywhere else on earth.
Far up a hill in Edinburgh City are acres of garden.
I headed up one sunshiny day
escaping the din of castles, pubs and tourists.
Tranquility was far from me,
my mind too busy, too full of deadlines.
In through a steel flower gate, open and gleaming,
I walked past banks of lilies where a feline reclined.
Fairies frolicked in the shadows; pixies darted overhead.
Mama duck quacked complaint, one baby late,
and two mute swans groomed in a blue lake.
Roses bloomed, bushes starkly pruned, flowers opened,
troubles closed. Here and there scamps bounded,
kids in form and kids at heart.
Robins pecked for worms, and starlings flirted.
A soft breeze made dance the dappled light beneath trees.
Couples picnicked, basking in sunlight on lawns.
A lizard sat patient and motionless in the sun.
Did he escape from his cage, too?
I strolled until my feet ached on the stone paths,
drinking in the fragrance, the color, the sounds,
Till my heart was full and my senses intoxicated.
Then I lay on the grass beside the lily pond
Staring up into a tree, bewitched by leaf and frond.
Mind quiet.
Copyright 2013 Brenda Davis Harsham
Dedicated to Two Scamps 😉
54 thoughts on “Garden Green”
Comments welcome!
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Friendly Fairy Tales 
Thank you very much, Brenda, for sharing your lovely photos and poems! Well done!
Since you have such a deep affinity with garden and its magic and tranquility, please feel free to visit other SoundEagle’s websites that concern plants, gardening and horticulture:
http://pottedplantsociety.wordpress.com (where you can even find fairy gardens)
http://queenslandbegonia.wordpress.com
http://queenslandorchid.wordpress.com
http://rhsq.wordpress.com
Enjoy!
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I’ll be back soon, right now I have an impending houseguest from Ohio to entertain. But I’ll be back in the saddle again by the weekend! I loved checking out your blog this morning, you are very creative and talented! Can’t wait to check out the gardens… might have to take a peek. 🙂
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Splendid! The scenery is a joy to behold.
The city of Edinburgh rings a bell… Some years ago, my dad obtained his master’s degree in Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. If I may ask, is the school far from the location of this garden?
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I wish I knew, but I was only there a week 16 years ago, wow! 16! Anyway, I don’t know that university, so I’m not sure. But the city isn’t that big compared to NYC or Hong Kong, etc.
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Edinburgh is a beautiful city although I haven’t visited in years. Disgraceful. One short train journey would see me there.
Or a poem such as this. Beautifully expressed. I could see myself in Princes Street gardens – a haven of tranquillity in the midst of the city.
Remembering and capturing that so well, a gift. Kudos and thank you for sharing. A very pleasant poem to read as I sip my Sunday morning coffee. Calm before heading into the busyness of the day ahead.x
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A reminder to myself too: that stopping work is as important as continuing the pace. I’m so happy you enjoyed the poem. 🙂 I loved Scotland.
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If you’ve not been to the Highlands, mark that in your diary. You would love it. Inspirational and full of fey and ethereal qualities that flow through your bones. I don’t live there but I love visiting.x
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I visited Eigg, Arisaig, Raasay, Skye, Eileen Donan, Sterling, Glasgow plus a whole week in Edinburgh. Missed lots, though, and want to go back one day.
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Wow, you did get around. I hope the weather was kind to you when you were here. That’s often the only drawback.x
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I was there for two weeks or a little more, and the weather was sunny and warm (hot even) the whole time except for one small rain shower in Arisaig. We took it in stride because it was the same weather we were accustomed to, but eventually we realized that Scotland was in a very unusual heatwave. The hillsides were blooming with heather and wildflowers. The nights were an endless twilight. The highlands were quiet and peaceful after the long week in crowded Edinburgh, while the Tattoo was getting underway. People did ask us, what are you doing here? when we stopped at some of the smaller places. 🙂
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You obviously struck a lucky one. It makes all the difference, although it does help bring the midges out. A spot of rain, a drop of sun and they’re in heaven!x
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No midges troubled us. We were blessed.
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Truly.x
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Truly.x
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I enjoyed your walk, felt your weariness, along with seeing all of your awesome sights. I thought the peacefulness of nature, reminded me of my tranquil moments (and post) with Bill, last Sat. night. I loved that you included birds (a robin, too!) and the lizard. Always like the way you intertwine your thoughts, feelings and the mood of the writings. The poem was exquisite, from start to finish!
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You know the robin was there for you! The lizard was there for the Two Scamps (another blog I follow), as well as the scamps reference because the poem was inspired by a post they had made and a series of comments I has with them. And the memory is one of my favorites. Thanks for your usual wonderful comment! Warmly, Brenda
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Oooh – that was really beautiful!!♥ What a magical day! 😀
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Thanks! Another comment went to spam and was rescued! I have to start looking more often! You have a magical day, too. Here it is pouring!! The gardens need the rain, so I am delighted.
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With the cool chill of a wisp of a wind
the willows yellow leaves fall into the creek…
(I made it out once…might make it out twice)
And wonder if the hottest days of summer are
truly behind…
Thanks for sharing in verse and photos!
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What lovely words. Thanks for keeping the conversation alive and vibrant.
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Absolutely beautiful! I could feel every word! Thank you for this.
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Oh, I’m so happy! I worked and reworked it, trying to find just the right words and tone. Then somehow, I thought, it’s done. It’s always hard to know when something is done. I’m glad it works!
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I most certainly does! Wonderful!
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Bless you for your kind words!
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I’ve always wanted to go…and now with your words painting such a magickal place
I am enchanted from here more!…
this was a true joy to read….I could feel the breeze as you looked up through the trees…
Thank you for sharing…
Take Care…
)0(
maryrose
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The magic is in you. You will bring it with you and make an already enchanting place an experience to never forget. Remember to leave time to just be. 🙂
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This is beautiful , is it a memory, were you ever in Scotland!… It really is a lovely a poem. Thank you for sharing
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Sorry I had to rescue your comment from spam. Yes, indeed I was in Edinburgh in 1997, and this was from my memory. It was a perfect day. We came down to Prince Street at long last, feet aching, and a parade was going by. We could not cross. We stood there waiting for the parade to go by, and all the noise and tumult was jarring. But the quiet I achieved in the garden has stayed with me all these years.
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I know what you mean , sometimes you have a special moment that last for the rest of your life! I hope I am not skulking in everyone’s spam!! 😦
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Strange how the lights of wordpress flicker and grow dim, then brighten again. I’ve liked posts, and found them unliked, like a wordpress gremlin is following my tracks, wiping them out so no one can see where I’ve been. Sometimes my spam is all spam, and sometimes it’s all friends. Awards come and awards go from my notifications archive. I observe, swerve and try not to criticize. I’m sure that isn’t what they intend. Or perhaps they really did assign me a gremlin.
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well I definitely have been blessed with a gremlin of late!!
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Well, this comment went straight to spam, so I think you may be right!
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& it is indeed beautiful 🙂
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Thanks! One of the many places I would be happy living. Such a great place.
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“Mind quiet.” What a task, yet you’ve done it here beautifully!
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Thanks! It’s so rare I get to have a quiet mind, it’s a precious moment.
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So beautiful!
Jess
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Thanks!
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I think you just described paradise. 🙂
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Paradise must be inside each of us then. What a lovely thought! Thanks such a great comment! Warmly, Brenda
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Edinburgh as such is such a quaint and tranquil place. Been there several times and love its prettiness. Did not know of this garden though.
Shakti
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It’s glorious. I was there years ago, but I was reading about it on the internet, and it sounds even more fantastic than it was before.
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The din of Edinburgh is not easy to escape, but you certainly succeeded.
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Thanks! Yes, the garden was lovely and peaceful. A beautiful, treasured memory.
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So wonderfully tranquil and happy.
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Thanks! It was a happy day I’ve always remembered since.
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Such wonderful imagery and images-such magic we can see and feel when we allow ourselves to be quiet-I felt myself relaxing as I was reading-
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Those are wonderful words, thanks. I can’t imagine better praise than knowing you caught the same feeling I felt in Edinburgh all those years ago. That’s magic!
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Absolutely wonderful! Finding tranquility is difficult to find in this day and age. Looks like you found it along with some magic. This post made me smile and feel happy for you! 🙂 -Maureen
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Hi Maureen, I hope you saw the dedication at the end — here’s my delivery on a story with a garden, two scamps and a lizard. I had fun doing it, and I was quite surprised when it turned out as a poem, but it just seemed appropriate. I’m glad I made you smile. That makes my day! Warmly, Brenda
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Thanks, Brenda :-). Sometimes those poems that form unexpectedly can be surprising and immensely satisfying! Cheers!
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You know it! Hot out west?
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It’s been one hot summer! I looking forward to fall!
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It’s cooled off here a bit. July was a scorcher.
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