https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436527

The Flowering Orchard

Oldest Daughter – 06/30/14

…and then for no reason she knew, not in response to another’s word or the calling of a child, or a query from the workers, she stopped, and after a moment, she quietly leaned against her rake and just breathed, just looked and beheld and then smelled the beauty and subtle fragrance of the blossoms and then as these things began to seep within, she heard the birds of spring and the humming of the bees – creatures she had never feared even as a child and had even come to love as a young woman, not knowing at the time what came first, the love of the bees or the love of Francois, who she wed with joy, but first bedded him in her heart with even more joy, yes, here among the flowers and grasses and the birds and the honey bees, which – she smiles – is the reason, perhaps why his kiss always remains as honey upon her lips, yes, even now with all the babies – the children – they also born with and in the smell and taste of honey upon them.  And as she lingered in thought, yes, for no reason…but perhaps that was the reason…she beheld and saw the shadows of the twigs and branches of the trees more clearly among the old fallen leaves, the green grasses littered with the petals of the fulfilled blossoms, and she knew her life was also fulfilled within the passing of the sun.