Capturing a Golden Moment

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leafs a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

--Robert Frost

My favorite time of day, those few moments of golden light that one sees most commonly in a late August evening just as the sun makes its descent, feel both beautifully warming and ultimately sad. I am always reminded that the season of growth is drawing to an end, and that life itself is so transitory and precious. Frost's poem, made popular to generations of teenagers in the story, "The Outsiders," the coming of age novel by S.E. Hinton, speaks literally of spring and dawn, and yet, for me, just as appropriate to the year's wrap-up when the leaves begin to turn gold again, and the sky is awash with a fleeting magic. With each magic moment, I think, "This may be the last time I see this here for we may have moved on by this time next year." But in truth all moments are seen just once, and we never know when something like it will come again. So as always, I try to just be with it for a while. The heart will always want more, and "Again!" but it's probably wiser to count only on the moment, and see as much glory in it as we possibly can.

Pausing after a walk to see my everyday world in a different light.

Kitty wants to come out and be part of it.

The tea ritual: berry for him and ginger for me.

The fragrant leaves of the pineapple sage will soon be joined by brilliant red flowers. Such a feast of texture, color and scent.

The sunset sky reflected in the window or seen through it. This window has brought me much joy over the years.

The man says a bunny and a bear are having a conversation. Just enough clouds to bring the magic. It lasts but a minute, but the warmth lingers and inspires.