The Wisdom of Cherry Blossoms

'Cherry Blossoms' C.T. Rasmuss, Acrylic/India Ink, 2012.

 

 

Cherry Blossoms was part of a series in which I combined India Ink with my tessellation technique, as you will notice its composition and feel is modeled after the Japanese Prints that influenced my favorite Impressionists 150 years ago. 

As a kid up in Michigan I remember climbing and interacting with apple blossom trees, I was fascinated with the changes of the blossoms and noticing their transition into apples.  Years later in middle school science classes, we were taught this "ancient" technique of how Blossoms turn into fruit and why, n what not; after reading the poem by Toi Derricotte, I was immediately transported back to this time I forgot as child............I miss my old method of learning. 

Cherry blossoms

Toi Derricotte, 1941

I went down to
mingle my breath
with the breath
of the cherry blossoms.

There were photographers:
Mothers arranging their
children against
gnarled old trees;
a couple, hugging,
asks a passerby
to snap them
like that,
so that their love
will always be caught
between two friendships:
ours & the friendship
of the cherry trees.

Oh Cherry,
why can’t my poems
be as beautiful?

A young woman in a fur-trimmed
coat sets a card table
with linens, candles,
a picnic basket & wine.
A father tips
a boy’s wheelchair back
so he can gaze
up at a branched
heaven.
                     All around us
the blossoms
flurry down
whispering,

        Be patient
you have an ancient beauty.

                                            Be patient,
                                  you have an ancient beauty.

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