Monday, December 13, 2021

Doors Open and Close


Two gnomes at the gate of the Matthaei Botanical Garden.

During the pandemic, the gates of the inner garden at Matthaei were closed, and no one could enter. It was a wonderful relief when these doors reopened. Now we can enjoy the gardens, which are beautiful in all seasons. At Christmas, the gates are guarded by gnomes, to whom I've given some wine to drink in my altered photograph.

All four gnomes guarding the gate (without the wine)
A number of bloggers who create interesting arts and crafts are currently producing images using the theme of doors opening and closing. I've found this a theme appropriate in so many ways, especially as the beginning of each year is always seen as one door closing and another opening -- going back to the Roman door god Janus who had two faces looking forward and backward. I found the following poem on the same theme.

Doors opening, closing on us

By Marge Piercy

Maybe there is more of the magical
in the idea of a door than in the door
itself. It’s always a matter of going
through into something else. But

while some doors lead to cathedrals
arching up overhead like stormy skies
and some to sumptuous auditoriums
and some to caves of nuclear monsters

most just yield a bathroom or a closet.
Still, the image of a door is liminal,
passing from one place into another
one state to the other, boundaries

and promises and threats. Inside
to outside, light into dark, dark into
light, cold into warm, known into
strange, safe into terror, wind

into stillness, silence into noise
or music. We slice our life into
segments by rituals, each a door
to a presumed new phase. We see

ourselves progressing from room
to room perhaps dragging our toys
along until the last door opens
and we pass at last into was.

20 comments:

David M. Gascoigne, said...

It's a great poem. I think that this whole idea of one door closing and another opening is a bit of a universal philosophical theme. I can think of doors that have opened for me that have worked wonderfully well, yet in other cases I failed to recognize the opportunity that was presented to me.

Valerie-Jael said...

Hi Mae, I love your post today, and the poem at the end. Doors make a fascinating theme indeed. And when you start to think about it you see more and more. When I was younger I took every opportunity to open new doors, but these days it's not so easy! Have a great week, w

Cloudia said...

This is lovely, thank you!

Harvee said...

Makes me think of a door closing but yet seeming ajar, with possibilities to its fully opening again. Happy holidays!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I was stumped by Valerie's theme this month and really didn't seem to connect it to real life. I'm delighted you shared the poem, which helps put it into perspective. I'm hoping this will be your T Tuesday post, where the gnomes share their wine with us. I think these gates are fabulous, too. Happy T day, dear.

DVArtist said...

This is really a lovely post.

kathyinozarks said...

Hi Mae, I loved the poem especially, and I love gnomes I have a collection of them-glad the gardens have an open gate again Happy T wishes Kathy

My name is Erika. said...

I hope you share some photos of the gardens Mae. These gates are so fun, and perfect for T too. Have a great T day and week ahead Mae. Hugs-Erika

Carola Bartz said...

I understand your relief to being able to visit the gardens again. Such a calming place to be. I always find gardens perfect refuges. I love how you added the wine glasses to the gnome guards.

Linda Kunsman said...

Wine drinking gnomes :):):)
Great poem and a wonderful way to connect it to a door theme. happy T day!

Tandy | Lavender and Lime (http://tandysinclair.com) said...

What an interesting poem. You are lucky things are open enough where you live to go and visit.

Iris Flavia said...

Love your gnomes. Will need to look of the "Nacker" - a huge Nutcracker - is back in town.

Great, true poem.

kwarkito said...

l'image est étrange autant que le poème magnifique

nwilliams6 said...

Mae, I love your poem, but your altered photo steals the show! I LOVE it!!!!!! Such a fun post for this week. Happy T-day and hugz!!!!

CJ Kennedy said...

Love the happy gnomes and the poem is so apropos. Happy T Day!

Divers and Sundry said...

Those are big gnomes! They make great greeters :) Happy T Tuesday

Empire of the Cat said...

Love the poem and the gnomes, didn't realise that you had added the wineglasses until you said lol. Happy International T Day! Elle/EOTC xx

Sharon Madson said...

The gnomes are so fun! Great poem, too. Have a great week!

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

As we approach a new year, I am always lifted up in a feeling of new beginnings. The door is opening.

Jeanie said...

Love Matthei and these wonderful greeters!