delight, delight ☀️
hey stranger,
i am sick. i’m congested and lethargic, and i’ve been taking it very easy.
this post has nothing to do with that, but it felt false to write about joy and delight without sharing how i’m doing today. but don’t cry for me — i took the most wonderful bath today. it was so relaxing, and i used louise’s special chamomile + lavender bath solution. what a treat.
anyway…
before i left on this trip, i bought a pocket-sized photo printer. i thought little photos would be a nice addition to my travel journal, and i was right! i ended up bringing more photo paper than i needed though, so while i was on the train from edinburgh to lincoln, i used up the rest of my current roll to make a little more space in my suitcase.
i ended up printing out this photo of me from before the trip even started. i don’t love having my picture taken — it brings up so much insecurity for me. but in this one, i was hanging out at the berkeley marina with my friends giulia, andrea, and kamaile. and i got so excited while i was talking that i stood up on the bench and raised my arms in the air. andrea captured the moment, and i love this picture!
i pasted it into the center of the page, not knowing what i might do with it. i ended up drawing a colorful frame, and a word popped out at me — to me, this picture glows with DELIGHT. so i wrote that at the top of the page.
then rhymes started popping into my head! so i wrote a poem! want to hear it? it goes like this:
DELIGHT!
delight, delight, how wild and bright
unbridled like a viney blight
a skyward, mighty, violent sight
she rises like the highest kite
delight, delight, how strong and tall
the wind can spin but she won’t fall
her tender toughness weathers all
she’s made room for her roots to sprawl
delight, delight, how rare and precious
just to catch her for a second
so mundane and so momentous
can’t predict it, can’t pretend it
delight, delight, i sing your chorus
loud, impassioned, and uproarious
not that pretty? not important
make it just by looking for it.
hope you catch a drop of delight today. take a bubble bath if you’re able.
love,
