LADY’S SLIPPER

Carman, Bliss, (1861-1929)

Who passed this way and left this trace Of beauty in so wild a place,

To stir our souls with marveling At so incredible a thing?

Who sent this living miracle In the deep Northern woods to dwell,

Where only hermit thrushes come And the shy brown bear makes his home?

Whence was the inspiration caught? Whose was the sudden happy thought?

Or whose the impulse thus to bless The rough untrodden wilderness?

Deep in our hearts glad tidings say, Beauty herself came by this way,

And with a wisdom older far Than alphabet or calendar,

Cast off her sandal as she sped Lest we should miss the way she fled.

And so forever we pursue The shadowy trail of Beauty's shoe,

And for her sake must leave behind Riches and rest and peace of mind,

To follow on that shining trace, With beating heart and breathless pace.

By darkling wood and haunted stream, Still lured by the enchanting gleam,

Wherever the long way may lead, To keep the trail is all our need.

On simple fare, in poor attire, Torn and waylaid by flint and briar,

With the lone dawn upon the height Or the great desert stars by night,

Through burning sun and blinding snow Untiring and content we go,

If only so we may behold Dear Beauty's self ere we are old.

I've been trying to get out and walk on the days I feel well enough. Yesterday as I walked I spotted these lovely lady slippers. When I lived in Louisiana I had a greenhouse full of over 300 orchids and Lady slippers were certainly among my favorites.  Chris (between 5 and 10 then) called them the saxophone  orchids because of the shape of their blooms. Unfortunately, these walks are exactly what's making me feel worse as I caught the weather report this morning and noticed that mold is through the roof. Mold  is one of the worst offenders where my allergies are concerned so I'll not be venturing outside at all until I'm feeling a great deal better indeed. 

Meanwhile, I managed to finish the first web sock out  of the luscious purple koigu. The more I knit with  this colorway the more I enjoy it. I'd love to do an  entire sweater out of the stuff. Hey Debbi, can you dye some yarn these colors for me?