Pages

Thursday, October 23, 2025

Grief is not a Mouse

Rosa 'Susan Williams-Ellis' & Dichondra argentea 'Oreja de Ratón' 23 October 2025

 

 

Grief is a Mouse – Emily Dickinson

Grief is a Mouse -

And chooses Wainscot in the Breast

For His shy House -

And baffles quest -

 

Grief is a Thief - quick startled -

Pricks His Ear - report to hear

Of that Vast Dark -

That swept His Being - back -

 

Grief is a Juggler - boldest at the Play -

Lest if He flinch - the eye that way

Pounce on His Bruises - One - say - or Three -

Grief is a Gourmand - spare His luxury -

 

Best Grief is Tongueless - before He'll tell -

Burn Him in the Public square -

His Ashes - will

Possibly - if they refuse - How then know -

Since a Rack could'nt coax a syllable - now

 

 Today I wrote about Rosemary’s favourite grey plants. There is one she never ever saw because it was introduced after she died. It is a little silver/gray vine that grows with my potted roses. It originates from Ecuador down to Southern Argentina. It is called Dichondra argentea and it is sometimes given the extra cultivar name ‘Oreja de Ratón’ or “mouse ear”.

 A Sweep of Grey 

She would have instantly acquired it as I did. Right now it looks charming and cute.

And English Rose Rosa ‘Susan Williams-Ellis’ I would have suspected to be a delicate rose unlikely to be the only one in bloom now. But it is. So it must be delicate but hardy, much like my Rosemary was.