Though they are the bane of our lawn’s existence these days, the little violets seen here are a happy memory-inducing plant from my childhood. Back then, I’d explore the woodland behind our backyard and these flowers shone in wide swaths and groups, mostly in their white and purple form. There’s something more peaceful and lovely about the simple violet hue you see here. I would hunt these out among the more plentiful white ones. Maybe I valued them more for their scarcity. At my current home, the pure violet ones outnumber the multi-colored version.
Nowadays they are wreaking havoc with the uniform green carpet of our lawn, and so we must eradicate them. I’m not bothered by it – they will never be entirely gone. There are too many, their realm is too vast, and there are always more to be found if ever we make a complete eviction. For now, I’m enjoying their little blooms as they pop up, reconciled to their bothersome invasive tendencies, content with being granted the memory they evoke.
(If I pick all the flowers, there will be no seed to spread, so bouquets like this provide beauty and purpose, the best of all possible worlds.)
Shirley Horn sang this song about violets on her ‘Violets for Your Furs’ live album. I never gave it much thought until this day. Memory is strange that way. Ms. Horn gives it her trademark slow-burn treatment. The full set of lyrics yearn with romance and longing, and though it’s marked by snow and winter references, there are peeks into a coming spring. Besides, the best songs can be heard year-round and still maintain their resonance.
IT WAS WINTER IN MANHATTAN
FALLING SNOWFLAKES FILLED THE AIR
THE STREETS WERE COVERED WITH A FILM OF ICE
BUT A LITTLE SIMPLE MAGIC THAT I’D HEARD ABOUT SOMEWHERE
CHANGED THE WEATHER ALL AROUND, JUST WITHIN A TRICE
YOU BOUGHT ME VIOLETS FOR MY FURS
AND IT WAS SPRING FOR A WHILE, REMEMBER?
YOU BOUGHT ME VIOLETS FOR MY FURS
AND THERE WAS APRIL IN THAT DECEMBER
THE SNOW DRIFTED ON THE FLOWERS AND MELTED WHERE IT LAY
THE SNOW LOOKED LIKE DEW ON THE BLOSSOMS
AS ON A SUMMER DAY
YOU BOUGHT ME VIOLETS FOR MY FURS
AND THERE WAS BLUE IN THE WINTRY SKY
YOU PINNED THE VIOLETS TO MY FURS
AND GAVE A LIFT TO THE CROWDS PASSING BY
YOU SMILED AT ME SO SWEETLY
SINCE THEN ONE THOUGHT OCCURS
THAT WE FELL IN LOVE COMPLETELY
THE DAY YOU BOUGHT ME VIOLETS FOR MY FURS
If lyrics aren’t your preferred way of listening tonight, give the John Coltrane Quartet’s version a spin. It’s the perfect accompaniment to a breezy spring evening that doesn’t yet feel like spring.
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