The nights are long now. Twilight lingers until 11:30pm or so it seems, even with the moon waning and winding down. The hedgerows around us are filled with an abundance of wild flowers species, including wild roses and honeysuckle. The air I breathe ourside my door is heady with sweet scents, with a top note of wild rose on the breeze.
Yet, the upcoming Summer Solstice also marks the turn towards shortening daylight until we plunge into darkness around Samhain. Yet it is in May and June we notice the brightness most as everything in nature burgeons.
This time last year as the wild roses bloomed I was taking part in a 30 day e-course by Joanna Powell Colbert. She is also the author of the Gaian tarot deck. This morning I was pondering the Major arcana Death card, which also imcludes wild roses in the illustration.
Wild Roses
Here we are at the height of daylight.
Along the hedges roses grow wild-
White, girlish pink, and a darker hue,
Too. Five-petalled perfection.
With thorns. Wear protection.
Sting of love. Sting of death.
Grief amidst sweet fragrance
On the late afternoon breeze.
Love is never simple, running
As straight and narrow as a Roman road.
It grows in tangles like the wild rose
All the bounty a salad tossed up with
Honeysuckle, holly, elder and bindweed.
Even now at the sun’s height it’s dying
Perhaps seeding something else bright.
Sojourning Smith 