When I worked at the Met, I took the bus only occasionally to save money. I didn't have a regular route; I walked whichever way felt good. Sometimes I walked across town at 98th Street, and then up 5th Avenue. Sometimes up Amsterdam then across town on 86th. If I had time to dawdle, I walked into the park made my way north or south. Working on Sunday morning gave me the park, seemingly in its entirety. I remember walking in the park one Sunday morning after a night snowfall, and before me lay a landscape of untouched snow, and behind me, one single track of footprints. Working on Friday nights, I remember looking at the winter sky through the telescope of a generous star gazer, a perfect sky bordered by the perfect skyline. My fondest memory is walking up 5th avenue one fall morning, and a wind blowing the golden leaves off the trees, the early sunlight seeming to make the matte leaves shimmer.
Here, the seasons are not so generous. There is the wet season (l'hivernage), and the dry season (le carême). The wet season is ending. The skies are being swept clean of their clouds, and the air is cool and dry.
Yesterday, I laid down on the couch and felt that cool dry air blowing on my face. The wind was blowing through the palm trees and I heard rustling. With my eyes closed, I could easily imagine myself back in New York on an autumn morning, walking through the park. All that was missing was the earthy smell of leaves beginning to compost in the dirt. It was bittersweet. On the one hand, it seemed incredible that this island could offer me nostalgia for an autumn in New York. On the other hand, I knew that what I felt was just a fleeting sensation, one that would end as quickly as I can open my eyes.
Still, while Guadeloupe may not be generous in seasons, it is generous in other ways.
Rainbows, not from an oil slick on the pavement, but large, gigantic, stretching across the sky.
Sunrises that burn.
Sunsets that melt like a popsicle across the sky.
Oh, May--you're such a beautiful writer. I'm glad you sent your blog address along to me! I will be sure to follow it regularly for a bit of inspiration and for a glimpse into your far away life. Be glad today that you are in Guadeloupe: here in New York it is about 38 degrees and raining, with a bitter, eddying wind that makes the icy droplets come at you from every angle. The only thing nice about freezing rain in New York is that I have Central Park virtually to myself, and enjoy looking at the black cold bark against the white-washed sky. Even still, I would trade this for one of your exquisite scenes above!!
ReplyDeleteDiscovered the blog and enjoy it- My fond memories of Guadeloupe include 2 of your great pictures- Sunrises that burn - I was so amazed that it was already "too hot and sunny" at 8:30AM one day- and the great rainbows that are arched high so one can see both ends clearly- I will never forget the one that I actually looked DOWN at to view the ends of as I descended the road from La Soufriere to the sea.
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