Gardener’s Prayer
by Karel Capek
O Lord, grant that in some way
it may rain every day,
Say from about midnight until three o’clock
in the morning,
But, You see, it must be gentle and warm
so that it can soak in;
Grant that at the same time it would not rain on
campion, alyssum, helianthus, lavendar, and others which
You in Your infinite wisdom know
are drought-loving plants-
I will write their names on a bit of paper
if you like-
And grant that the sun may shine
the whole day long,
But not everywhere (not, for instance, on the
gentian, plantain lily, and rhododendron)
and not too much;
That there may be plenty of dew and little wind,
enough worms, no lice and snails, or mildew,
and that once a week thin liquid manure and guano
may fall from heaven.
Amen.
Probably a futile request (God in His wisdom, after all…), but one I fully understand, Years ago, when my best friend and I were both single, working Moms, we used to say that we wouldn’t care if God let it rain every day, so long as it was not during daylight hours; or, at the very least avoided weekend days! 🙂
Your photos, as usual, are beautiful.
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Ah, many of us have invoked that prayer, Karen, and still do. Thank you so very much.
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I love this! I was looking for the perfect gardener’s prayer for Earth Day and you found it!! 🙂
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I’m so pleased that you liked it, Deborah. I recently read it as an invocation/prayer for a garden club luncheon and was asked for copies. Then I saved it just for today to post.
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Wonderful prayer . Can you add a sentence on the end for lightening to only strike the couch grass please.
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Aha! Now that would be something, wouldn’t it?
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I stumbled here from the booksnob’s site…so glad I did! Love your writing style and had so much fun reading your old blog post…I’ve bookmarked your site and will definitely be back for more! You’ve earned yourself a new “regular.”
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I’m so pleased that you stopped by and had some fun here on the Cutoff. Thank you for making me a “regular” and for you kind words. I took a quick look at your site just now and will return for a closer look later today. I listened to Christopher’s Reeve’s memoir a long time ago on audio and still remember his courage, as well as having a crying spell in the car while driving home.
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I “read” his first one on audio as well..that’s what lured me in to check out the next one. It’s really amazing what a great individual he was…I was pretty close to tears myself.
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This is so funny! I loved it! And I think sometimes deep in my heart this is how I regard the weather…I don’t want drought, but oh I really don’t want to be inconvenienced by the rain either! LOL! You’ve given me a good chuckle! Thanks, Penny! Debra
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I’m glad to have given you a chuckle, Debra. I think most of us regard the weather in much the same way. You are so very welcome.
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Happy Earth Day to you who keep it in your heart every day.
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You too, Marilyn.
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Penny, moving means giving up my garden. This makes me miss it already.
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You will give up your garden, Andra, but think of all the time you’ll now have to visit. Too luck on the moving.
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Now, Penny, that would be nice. I always loved the idea in The Truman Show that it could rain at night and be gorgeous during the day: that we might even be able to engineer the conditions for our beautiful plants. Mine are looking so bedraggled right now…
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A little bit like Camelot, isn’t it Kate? Sorry your plants are looking bedraggled. Hope they perk up soon (or the next faze starts).
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This one made me smile Penny. Yes, many’s the time I’ve wished for a good soaking of rain – to take place while I’m asleep!
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So glad to hear that, Juliet. I was hoping it would bring a grin or two to everyone.
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Heh. ‘m going to send that to my mum who is a devoted gardener!
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I hope she enjoys it, Nicola.
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That’s not asking too much is it? ;>) Who is Karl Capek? That names sounds so familiar — I’m off to Google as soon as I send this. We had rain at about that time this morning, but it was not gentle. (but I don’t have a garden anyway).
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Not too much. I don’t know much about Karl Capek, Sallie. I do know he wrote “A Gardener’s Year”, which is prominent on my to be read list. Someday I will find it in the library and give it a read. It seems we almost never have a gentle rain anymore, doesn’t it? I think your garden now is wherever the road or waterways take you.
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A wonderful poem and your photo’s (in this piece and the one prior) are absolutely glorious 🙂
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Thank you so very much.
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I think my green-fingered mother could have written that prayer, Penny. Such fun! 🙂
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She must have had a delightful sense of humor, Perpetua, as well as a green thumb.
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