Ever since I was a little girl, I have believed that umbrellas were kind of magical. Whether an umbrella I had was simple and utilitarian, or beautifully designed with vibrant colors, I thought of it as being mine only for a short time and saw all umbrellas, ultimately, as being part of a universal pool of magical moving shelters. Perhaps that is partially because I have left them in many places. But, I am not the only one. They are, after all, often left in restaurants, and bus stops, on subways and schools. Every church I’ve ever visited has an umbrella stand with a variety of these weather helpers that have, at one time or another, been abandoned by someone, making them ready and available for the next person in need of shelter. There is something rather sweet about it, a reminder that we all have days where we need shelter. We all have days when we forgot to bring an umbrella, but find ourselves in need of one, another symbol of our shared humanity. It became a delight to leave an umbrella somewhere, or offer one to a stranger on a rainy day. If umbrellas could talk (and who knows, maybe they have a language all their own) perhaps they would like to share the tales of the different people who have carried them in a storm, toddlers they have sheltered, winds that have torn them from a hand, adventures they have experienced. I certainly would love to listen! And then I would take an umbrella and leave it somewhere it might be needed, as I walk away, smiling.
"Magical moving shelters!" You know, Kim, as I was reading this, I kept thinking, there's a poem nudging out of this. Especially when you got to the "language" of umbrellas. Maybe your poet-voice would like to explore further? THANK YOU FOR SHARING.
I love etymology - the study of word origins Umbrella comes from umbra -shadow. Parasol comes from - French word parare "to prepare, adorn, avert, shield") + sole "sun," going back to Latin sōl. Modern day uses umbrella shadows us from rain. Parasol shadows us from the sun. Bumbershoot is a slang for umbrella that I often heard my father use.
Playing with words
Pink parasols parade across the promenade. Blue bumbershoots bounce along the boulevard.
Umbrella is a bit harder. An umber (brown) umbrella under utility lines? A unit of umbrellas unified by ?????
Ever since I was a little girl, I have believed that umbrellas were kind of magical. Whether an umbrella I had was simple and utilitarian, or beautifully designed with vibrant colors, I thought of it as being mine only for a short time and saw all umbrellas, ultimately, as being part of a universal pool of magical moving shelters. Perhaps that is partially because I have left them in many places. But, I am not the only one. They are, after all, often left in restaurants, and bus stops, on subways and schools. Every church I’ve ever visited has an umbrella stand with a variety of these weather helpers that have, at one time or another, been abandoned by someone, making them ready and available for the next person in need of shelter. There is something rather sweet about it, a reminder that we all have days where we need shelter. We all have days when we forgot to bring an umbrella, but find ourselves in need of one, another symbol of our shared humanity. It became a delight to leave an umbrella somewhere, or offer one to a stranger on a rainy day. If umbrellas could talk (and who knows, maybe they have a language all their own) perhaps they would like to share the tales of the different people who have carried them in a storm, toddlers they have sheltered, winds that have torn them from a hand, adventures they have experienced. I certainly would love to listen! And then I would take an umbrella and leave it somewhere it might be needed, as I walk away, smiling.
"Magical moving shelters!" You know, Kim, as I was reading this, I kept thinking, there's a poem nudging out of this. Especially when you got to the "language" of umbrellas. Maybe your poet-voice would like to explore further? THANK YOU FOR SHARING.
maybe a poem, or a children's book.. thanks for your comment! I've not done the dig before, and was wondering if others would share...
Oh, yes, a children's book! 😊 As for Diggers sharing, it has been sporadic.
Ok, that’s good to know!
For me the magical properties of umbrellas comes from Mary Poppins since that’s how she enters and leaves.
I love etymology - the study of word origins Umbrella comes from umbra -shadow. Parasol comes from - French word parare "to prepare, adorn, avert, shield") + sole "sun," going back to Latin sōl. Modern day uses umbrella shadows us from rain. Parasol shadows us from the sun. Bumbershoot is a slang for umbrella that I often heard my father use.
Playing with words
Pink parasols parade across the promenade. Blue bumbershoots bounce along the boulevard.
Umbrella is a bit harder. An umber (brown) umbrella under utility lines? A unit of umbrellas unified by ?????
Love your word study and your word play, Eunice! Thank you!