How many cinnamon and raisin bagels (toasted and dripping with butter) have I eaten in my life?

How many times have I heard ‘Debaser’ by the Pixies, which is playing gloriously as I chew?

How many cups of fragrant earl grey? In this bone china mug with the orange flower? In other mugs, in other houses, with friends, without, with sadness, without?

How many times have I read the poem ‘The Blessing’ out loud, as I did last night, and felt sweet emotion rising in me as yeast leavens bread?

Which simple things bring you pleasure, over and over? Tell me.

Suddenly, I realise….

*

The Blessing

Just off the highway to Rochester, Minnesota,
Twilight bounds softly forth on the grass.
And the eyes of those two Indian ponies
Darken with kindness.
They have come gladly out of the willows
To welcome my friend and me.
We step over the barbed wire into the pasture
Where they have been grazing all day, alone.
They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness
That we have come.
They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other.
There is no loneliness like theirs.
At home once more, they begin munching the young tufts of spring in the darkness.
I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms,
For she has walked over to me
And nuzzled my left hand.
She is black and white,
Her mane falls wild on her forehead,
And the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear
That is delicate as the skin over a girl’s wrist.
Suddenly I realize
That if I stepped out of my body I would break
Into blossom.

James Wright

See, I told you I was a changey-mindy-girl. My radio silence lasted an entire three days. But sometimes you need complete permission NOT to do something before you want to do it again.

“I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.” Laura Ingalls Wilder

Well – it’s nearly the end of May. I’m looking out of my bedroom window at the huge walnut tree, the leaves shimmering in the light breeze and glinting in the sun. A mistle thrush hops from branch to branch, and a chaffinch is yelling his song. The simple things in life are sweet indeed. You can read my article on how to properly appreciate them here.

As well as this free article, I have a signed copy of each of my three novels to give away – just send me an email at fiona@fionarobyn.com the name of the book you’d like to win as the title of the email (Thaw, The Blue Handbag or The Letters) before the end of June.

The serialisation of Thaw is nearing an end – you can still read Ruth’s story here. I’m really pleased that the blog is still getting more than 80 hits a day – all these people have almost read an entire novel online. Alternatively, if you’d like to contribute to my posh chocolates budget, you can buy the book for yourself or a friend at Amazon UK for £4.79 or here it at the Book Depository with free delivery if you’re overseas.

(I also sent this blog out as a newsletter – if you’re not on my quarterly mailing list yet, add your email to the box on the right hand side…)

I’ll leave you with wise words from Anna Akhmatova. What are your favourite sweet simple things?

*

I Taught Myself to Live Simply

I taught myself to live simply and wisely,
to look at the sky and pray to God,
and to wander long before evening
to tire my superfluous worries.
When the burdocks rustle in the ravine
and the yellow-red rowanberry cluster droops
I compose happy verses
about life’s decay, decay and beauty.
I come back. The fluffy cat
licks my palm, purrs so sweetly
and the fire flares bright
on the saw-mill turret by the lake.
Only the cry of a stork landing on the roof
occasionally breaks the silence.
If you knock on my door
I may not even hear.

Anna Akhmatova