#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream

. . . Ferns of the earth—there is but one:

The green fern growing in the sun,

Fronding the woodland's light and shade,

Tracing the stone wall and the glade,

Edging the beauty of the world,

Its sturdy fiddleheads uncurled

To play the wood wind's April rhyme,

The mystic notes of green-up time: . . .

Excerpt from The Three Ferns, by Louise McNeill

Up early with Frank. A little too early? Yes. So many wonderful busy birds in the yard to visit and listen to before breakfast. I have a long walk with Charlie in the ferns and wetlands. One of my favorites, Interrupted Fern. It’s so enchanting, the way it positions its frond arms. I love seeing all the ferns I’ve transplanted over the years coming up and spreading out. They make me very happy. And I saw a spot today that needs some; perhaps this weekend I will have the chance to move some from our woods. I am listening, still, on these morning walks to the Abbey of the Arts podcast. The music, prayer and poetry they share is just right for this May season of reflection in the woods. I have a busy morning, a happy morning with a craft workshop I lead online for some of my Charles River Writing group. Very rich. And a board phone call after and then I think I will take a swim; but when I step outside, it’s too gorgeous to do anything other than some raking under the sun. I want to finish up the yards by this weekend. And so I get some more time outdoors; and make dinner again tonight, at first, feeling too tired to go to much trouble, but then my energy revives and I am cheerful at the stove. I have an article I wrote for the Martha’s Vineyard Times published today, as the organizer of Islanders Write, a 2-day writing conference on MV in August has invited me to share an article in advance of my workshop. It’s here.

Interrupted Fern, Rocky Narrows

Oh, what would this world be without ferns, “edging the beauty of the world”?