Friday, November 20, 2009

back bone cloud


i saw this.

towards the end
of a day.
not unlike other days -
with their demands
and gifts
almost equally balanced.


it lasted all of fifteen minutes.

i straddled my bike
and stood
watching its
unfolding
like a spine in the clouds.

one-by-one,
vortices
emerged
that i later compared
to the whorls and silvered curves
of water
behind a rock
in a slow and purposeful
river.

a river of sky.
(click the image to enlarge it).

37 comments:

Joanna said...

Wow Steven, that is just incredible. It is just like a river, complete with back eddies and currents. What a lovely way to end your day!

Jenny Stevning said...

********************************* :)

Sid Smith said...

As a confirmed cloud-watcher, this is a great picture, Steven. Wonderful atmosphere.

Caroline Gill said...

Great pairing of words and image, Steven. I am reminded of a Turner painting...

Delwyn said...

Hi Steven

you have a wave of cloud in a sea of sky...

Happy days

Pauline said...

It is a happy thing that these moments capture your attention and even better that you share them with us. Thanks!

Barry said...

Fascinating Steven. As a watcher of skies I'm not sure I have seen the like.

steven said...

hi joanna - i'll be catching up on your journey this weekend as you wend your way towards sunnier climes!!! thanks for dropping by here and for the nice comment!!! steven

steven said...

jenny - what a lot of stars!!!! steven

steven said...

sid - i wished i had had my good camera with me but you get what you get and really i was so amazed to be there outside on my bike and watch this grow. i love clouds as well - this blog bears not so mute testament to that!!!! have a lovely englishbeast coast day and don't get blown away!!! steven

steven said...

turner! oh caroline - high flattery through comparison. steven

steven said...

hello delwyn - so lovely to see your smiling face here!!!!! there are times when i see this formation that i wish i was inside those clouds and able to see their unfolding up closer. have a lovely day by the noosa. steven

steven said...

hi pauline - i have one eye watching all around and one eye watching for holes in the road and vehicles!!!it's quite a sight!!! have a lovely day. steven

steven said...

hi barry - it angled southeast - so towards the bluffs!!!! it's lovely to see you barry!!! i'm still bustin' over your good news yesterday. steven

Dervish said...

that's a startling view. thanks for the wonderful image!

steven said...

hi dervish - you're welcome. dad

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

Lovely steven. It looks like a master's painting - and should be hanging in a gallery.

ellen abbott said...

Wow, what an amazing picture.

Linda Sue said...

See how you are! Most would be looking at the ground grumbling about another cloudy day but you looked up , dangerously so with camera in hand and on your BIKE! Thank you ! I love your river sky, am waist deep in it- and it is actually warm, the current gentle, and, yes, many stars!!!

The Bug said...

I think I'd be looking for the UFO that created that wake - funky!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Beautiful sky - reminds me of William Blake steven.

Margaret Pangert said...

Pure poetry, Steven, is your description. Ah, the mammatus clouds billowing out from the spine. It must have been amazing to stand there and watch it build. Yes, a river of sky. Sheer delight.

Lisa Ursu said...

"unfolding
like a spine in the clouds"
I thought Loch ness when I read that, and saw the amazing pic. The universe never ceases to amaze when we stop and pay attention.
Thanks for paying attention Steven.

hope said...

I had no idea clouds had a backbone. :)

Once again, masterfully done. Have a great weekend!

steven said...

liza - i saw somewhere recently where it said something about biking compelling you to be in the moment. it's sort of a luxury to be able to bike and look around because in a car the risks are magnified . . . well it seems like they would be to me.! today i was looking into puddles at the reflections. my body took care of the biking. one part of my mind was watching the traffic behind to the side and in front and then there was this other part looking into the reflections. ooooh boy!!! steven

Golden West said...

Pure magic! I agree with Delwyn, it looks so much like an ocean wave forming.

steven said...

hi bonnie - it is a sort of master's painting. nature's the artist! steven

steven said...

thanks ellen!! it was a long formation but quick to gather and disperse. steven

steven said...

hi linda sue - it's a real balancing act - the biking and the seeing. but that's life. that's me!! thanks for the lovely words here. steven

steven said...

ha bug!! an exhaust plume from a ufo!! i love that!!! have a peaceful evening. steven

steven said...

really weaver?! i'd love for you to tell me more about that. have a lovely evening in the dale. steven

steven said...

margaret - i looked up mammatus and they are truly spectacular cloud formations . . . . wow!!!!! have a peaceful evening. steven

steven said...

thankyou so much hope. i'm going to enjoy this weekend very much!!!. steven

steven said...

golden west - i see that! it's as if you were on the ocean floor watching the wave curl up and over above your head. cool!!!!! steven

BT said...

Now that is one of the best sky photos I have seen - and I'm a real sky watcher. I never tire of the differing shapes and faces made by clouds. Quite incredible, how exciting it must have been. It looks almost other worldly.

steven said...

it's so cool isn't it!!!!! it was amazing to see it unfold and spread across the sky. thanks for your generous comment. steven

Christy said...

a most amazing sky!