“A Small Needful Fact” after Ross Gay

photo by Charles Earl

While we were in the waiting room of a clinic at the Civic Hospital to deal with my ongoing eczema, Charles noticed a hibiscus plant in the corner. It was in a large pot near the window. Someone had rigged up a watering system from things on hand: cafeteria tray below the pot to keep water from leaking; IV bag full of water with tubing going into an open coffee pot on the table. While some leaves were yellowing, others were green. And near the window bloomed one brilliant red hibiscus.

I don’t know about you, but for me, the constant onslaught of darkness in the winter months causes a lack of energy and feelings of melancholy. Since my diabetes diagnosis, I have been working hard to combat those feelings in order to ensure I get enough physical activity and maintain a positive mindset. Stress and negativity affects blood sugar levels just as much as carbs and lack of physical activity.

One morning after breakfast, Charles suggested we get outside for a walk right away because we often wait until we get our tasks done, which means not going out until the afternoon. By then the sun is often gone. So on this particular morning, after several days of grey and snowy weather, we dropped all our plans, put on our winter clothes, and walked through Chinatown to a favourite café. We held hands as we walked, as we always do.

The café was humid and full of light, which makes it a great home for plants and humans. We bathed in the light, while having a lovely long conversation. It was a Friday morning and the café was full of people chatting and enjoying time together. There were dogs too. The café was full of joy.

There were spider plants and philodendron, their hearts dangling down from high shelves by the front window. The forty-year old jade plant sat in a pot near some comfy chairs. There were many cuttings growing from the older plants. At this time of year, we need to see evidence of growth, tender and new shoots of green to make us remember that it won’t always be dark.

I feel hopeful that people want to take care of plants and that they can be resourceful and use whatever is at hand to do so. I feel hopeful that cafes owners provide a nurturing environment for plants.

Charles and I started to grow plants ourselves about a year into the pandemic. We’d never done so before. Alas our first, a watermelon pepperomia we named, “Darling,” lasted only six months or so, despite our best efforts. We now have several plants:  Groot and Sylvie, Earthstar, Rosey, Marvin and Jade, the latter I won at the wonderful 2-for-1 Open Mic series last year. I am grateful to Charles who nurtures these plants with such love and care.

How do we nurture one another in this difficult time? How doe we ensure that we get enough light, water, air and blue sky? How do we find and spread joy?  This is an ongoing question, but all I know is that to nurture others: plants, animals, people…is essential.

Plants, as Ross Gay says in his poem “A Small Needful Fact” make it easier for us to breathe. By tending to the plants, we tend to each other, to the planet, to our joy.

Thank you to all who have subscribed, both as free subscribers and as paid subscribers. I appreciate your interest and your support. I hope these notes on finding joy in difficult times resonate. You are welcome to talk to me of your own joys and struggles.

A reminder that Kate Heartfield and I are co-hosting a two-hour poetry and prose workshop on crossing genre boundaries to strengthen your poetry on Saturday, January 20, 2024 from 9 to 11 a.m. on Zoom. It’s $50. Contact kateheartfield@gmail.com if you’d like to attend. There are still two free spots available for those who can’t afford to attend, thanks to a very kind donor.

Also, I’ve begun an editing and mentorship service for those working on poetry, prose, visual poetry and hybrid works. If you’d like more information, please contact me.

PS: Here’s a book recommendation on joy: Ross Gay’s Inciting Joy.

PPS:

"The window opens like an orange

The lovely fruit of light”

Guillaume Apollinaire