In honour of May

A post dedicated to the treasures and pleasures of May

I do love May.

If June is blooming bride, May is doting flower girl - fresh, cheery and keen to help her up the aisle.

May is the perfect month for so many outdoor pursuits - wandering Sunday markets, sitting on a park bench watching waddling ducklings, cycling, paddling, picnicing…..

The evening light is lengthening, encouraging relaxing after dinner strolls and sunset gazing.

Even inside my house has that ‘Goldilocks just right’ temperature, needing neither heating nor cooling.

I love that butter becomes the ideal consistency for spreading, bananas neither take an age to ripen, nor blacken too quickly.

There are signs of bustling insect life, but not to the point you can’t open your window without it turning into a hang out for those pesky house-flies that circle your light fitting as sharks.

The word ‘may/May’ also pleases me.

It’s flexible, small, yet still manages to sound polite, sweet and hopeful.

I particularly adore blossom - trees are cardiganed in bobbly lamb tail like the creations of nature’s knitting nana.

I admire the density of it, branches loaded with its waggling wonder.

It staggers in shade from cream to oyster blush to that exquisite dusky plum colour.

Sometimes, cherry blossom is so candy floss garish, it almost parodies itself, huddling as flocks of flamingoes. In fact, there is a cafe in Halifax I sometimes frequent, that has brought this mood inside. So kitsch it’s cool!

Back to ‘the real thing’ - you’re just getting used to being surrounded by baby pink branches, then suddenly it’s like someone smashed open heaven’s piñata and it’s all over the ground!

Each park or street, a generous platter of sugared almonds.

I smile as I find it caught in my hair as stray fairy wings, have it land upon my lips - kisses from the wind, or simply observe it dance with itself, swirling, swooping, courting and chasing…..

Bluebells are another May delight.

The elfin grace of their modest drooping bonnets, lolling shyly on the tops of lanky stems. They evoke groups of moody, spindly teenagers, skulking their secrets in hidden copses. Their beguiling perfume competing for your nose’s attention with the more pungent aroma of wild garlic. In the woods, they fight it out as floral ‘Jets and Sharks’!

May also reminds me of the Maypole dancing we used to do at school, when I was a child.

Like so many things in life,  it brought out mixed emotions. Wanting to be chosen to dance around that pole with its colourful ribbons, to feel pretty and special, yet worrying I’d do it wrong, all that weaving in and out! That I’d turn a beautiful tradition into a chaotic Andrex puppy scene!

Whatever May means to you, MAY you enjoy all it offers.

I will leave you with this poem I wrote last night. It’s a bit maudlin, but very seasonal.

A cherry blossom wept with me

A cherry blossom wept with me

One fading hour in May

As lovers strolled in evening awe

To round a pleasant day

Slumped under burdened branches

I felt the weight of all she stored

The two of us, just broke our hearts

Both tears and petals poured

Held by trunk roots, in green grass shoots

We grieved our woes in peace

I rose, and left her to her cause

Renewed and lighter for release.