Nature often appears in my poems, even the ones I wrote before the sudden death of my daughter, Corrie. My presence on social media is moderate. I share or promote writing, but I often find there’s so much to do in the world before the time arrives for me to see my daughter again.
I believe in an afterlife of the souls; in heaven. While I don’t open up as much about it in person or in writing, I believe it’s impossible to think that the entity of our souls simply fades away after our bodies stop. I feel a beauty of eternity’s existence too much in Corrie’s spirit, nature, and our ability to do good in this world for others.
"In the Time of Tulips" Bloom not too early, but bloom not too late. See the green in the garden grow, and know you will see her in the stalks breaking through the soil, and parting the winter leaves. It takes time before we see what we want in the time we want for it never comes when we want. It takes time to separate yourself from the modern world's five seconds coming and going, the next thing, swipe right or left, the like or dislike in order to see green popping through the dirt.
Have you ever stopped, and considered how the tulips grow, or do you only stop and see the bloom in its beauty, take a pic and share? I used to consider the beauty in the Cherry Blossom trees and honeysuckles when in full bloom. You could smell the bit of honey, like some still on your lips. But it doesn't mean we appreciate the time it takes for what's beneath the soil to awaken, and send just a spot of green as the Earth awakens to a time of year when the leaves part for the bush and blossom.
There's a world I long to see beyond the one we know. I wanted it in the late spring time when my little girl was gone, but I could not get what I wanted in the time I wanted. There are places Amazon trucks and delivery drivers will never get packages to, and there are people we want, or things we want that we cannot get on demand. What is of this world will fade away into a simple yesterday when we remember the faint smell of honey on our fingertip before they'd gone away.
Think of this world for now, and see the blossoms bloom not too early; nor wait for when it's too late. Tulips withstand a harder ground even if we only perceive delicate purple teacups in the early spring. Believe nature works like heaven's time for it's not what we want at the time we want, but you must see the green peak through the ground, or you'll wait a year. Know the seasons, and when it's time before the tulip blooms and disappears. For when the tulip blooms and disappears, the time of the lily comes near. Mark the seasons by the growth and sleep and when plant and watch.
And fear not the storms of this world caused by those and things that are made only of dollar bills, brags and thrills for soon they will fade. Remember to look on the road sides for the daffodils as the tulip stalks break through the surface, and winter dissipates. Soon, it seems, if only for a moment the short promise of the spring, that what was lost will be found, or will come again. Long not for the blooms to early, and never too late. Wait not on this world's time, but know by the many seasons passed of the daffodils, I'll see my girl again. By R.A. Bridges
Corrie's Season 