Monday, May 30, 2011

Double rainbows



The rainbow never tells me -by Emily Dickinson

The rainbow never tells me
That gust and storm are by,
Yet is she more convincing
Than Philosophy.

My flowers turn from Forums --
Yet eloquent declare
What Cato couldn't prove me
Except the birds were here!




For two years in a row, in the merry month of May, we have been graced with gorgeous double rainbows. This one appeared on Saturday evening after a particularly driving rain with hail, remaining doubled for quite awhile before changing to a single rainbow. It was wider than the one last May, the one that (I learned a few weeks later) appeared on the day of my childhood friend's suicide. Double rainbows will remind me of him always.

I am having an emotional time of it lately, with or without rainbows. Lots of rain, lots of despair . . . . . .  except the birds were here.



.

17 comments:

Brian Miller said...

i am glad you at least have the birds...and perhaps a little hope from the rainbow...

kj said...

i don't know where you live, lydia, but i think this has been an emotional and difficult time for many, myself included. i think the mess of the world contributes, the weather, longings.

i understand. and i also know you have SO MUCH to see and share. you 'get'it, my friend lydia.

a double rainbow come your way means something very good (your lost friend may be sending you a bouquet?)

i don't mean to be sappy here. just sayin'

love love
kj

manuela said...

nothing like extended periods of rain to bring out the despair... from a distance, i hear you! and yet, from all that rain, you post about rainbows. thank you for that! hug.

YogaforCynics said...

Very lovely...and a far more dignified response than the guy in that video that was making the rounds last year.

Sorry to hear you've been having such a rough time. Like Bob Dylan sang, "I been hittin' some hard travelin', too..."

English Rider said...

Your rainbows are on fire with color. Sorry you are feeling down. The world can be a sucky place, more so than usual, for many of us. And yet, we do have the occasional rainbow moment.

Stickup Artist said...

Hi Lydia, sorry you are having so much lousy weather. It really does effect the mood unpleasantly to say the least. Not to mention the childhood association with rainbows connected to your friend's suicide. That is so tragic. During bad weather spells (internal and/or external) I always resort to the distraction of a slew of good movies. Hang in there, sunny skies and clear horizons will return...

mythopolis said...

There is so much to think about here. Your friend's death. And I could say something symbolic, I suppose, about a double rainbow that day, but it would frankly take away from the real sadness of that person's final moments. I've known this pain too. And felt some nagging guilt that maybe I could have done or said something that would have somehow changed the course of events. I do allow myself to feel sadness, and certainly some days can bring it on more than others. I think it is good to own the sadness, but not so good to become it. My life is full of mistakes, and sad times, awful times. I find I can reflect about these as long as I don't take them as the sum of my being. Love, D.

Rob-bear said...

Lovely pictures of the rainbow. I tend to take rainbows for granted, having seen so many. You remind me that it's important to stop and look at the world around us.

Sorry to hear of your despair. I've been living that, too; I hope you come to a new understanding of what has been troubling you. Blessings and Bear hugs!

Hattie said...

The times I remember weather like this in Oregon have been in May and June. Funny that we did not see any of this in Seattle, where it was cool and sunny. Your vid was strangely effective, I thought. Kind of gave me the chills.

Lydia said...

Brian~ Yes, hope from the rainbow. Thanks.

kj~ Such words of support from wonderful you really helped this day to move along, and when it was done I was ok with it. xo Thanks. (I live in Silverton, in a rainy valley in Oregon.)

manuela~ You wrote "hug" but that is what your comment itself was like for me. Thanks. xo

YogaforCynics~ It is probably a good thing that I am not familiar with the video you mentioned!
If Dylan and so many other, including you and me, "been hittin' some hard travelin'" I guess comfort comes from sharing the trip. Thanks.

English Rider~ Seems so many of us are feeling down, in varying degrees. Yes, rainbows help(!) and so does sharing...if only to say, "I hurt." Thanks.

Stickup Artist~ Strange how having a friend say "hang in there" can give such strength.
Losing friends and family to suicide is like being swallowed up by a mysterious force. It's totally lose-lose.
I will take your advice and check out some movies! Thanks.

mythopolis~ The tender beauty you shared in your comments really touched my soul. I think they might even have the power to be "known" by those who willingly left it all behind. Your final two sentences: wow...same here. Thanks. xo

Rob-bear~ Your recent move undoubtedly brought those feeling to the fore. Along with excitement over the new there must be a mourning of what you left behind, even it it was only familiarity.
I took your words and wishes to heart, and send my support in return. Thanks.

Hattie~ It really is strange that Seattle had more agreeable weather than what we have had around here. But I am glad for you!
I appreciate your take on the video; the birds were so full of song that it was quite moving.

secretfragileskies said...

Thank you for your always inspiring posts ~ just when we need them.

Roxana said...

i have never seen a double rainbow, not even known such a wonder existed... i am thinking now: seeing such light and colour and grace, storm and despair seem so far away, so powerless, so meaningless... yet without the rain there would be no rainbow, wouldn't it? and we wouldn't rejoice so much upon seeing it... if you care to go here:

http://roxanaghita.blogspot.com/2008/02/einige-von-euch-sagenfreude-ist-grer.html

a very old post of mine with a wonderful poem about joy and sorrow, by Gibran, i think you will love it...

i send you all my hugs and warm-fragrant-rainbowy thoughts...

Lydia said...

secret, fragile skies~ Ah, and I thank you for your visits, always a pleasure.

Roxana~ Knowing now that you did now know about double rainbows, you will definitely come to my mind the next ones I see. Wish I could send one to you in payment for your lovely friendship and photographs.
I have just visited the link you gave, loved the poem, and left a comment. Many thanks and many hugs.

Don't Feed The Pixies said...

it's always the same, as with busses, you wait for ages and then two come along together

great photo

Lydia said...

Pixies~ Your sense of humor is a delight in my life. Thanks.

susan said...

Ah yes, I remember well the double rainbows and the whole eastern sky all the way to Mt. Hood seen from our beautiful townhouse above OHSU. We'd have rainbow alerts and stop whatever we were doing just to stand and watch. I haven't seen even a single rainbow since coming here and I miss them. Thanks for a lovely post. You are indeed not alone in these feelings of ennui. There seems to be a great sadness about all the potential being wasted while crazy people go for broke.

Lydia said...

susan~ I am so sorry that you have not seen any rainbows there (yet). Surely they do appear, and will seem very sweet to you when they do. Lucky you, though, because you can paint one into one of your pieces if you feel like seeing one!
Your final sentence struck me as extremely profound.

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