Tuesday, January 19, 2010

down stream


snow-swallowed valley
only the
winding river . . .
black fluent brush-stroke


~

not very far from here
a stream
makes its way through
the woods


fed by the countless springs
that trickle
down the valley sides



its shallow body
flows over
water rounded pebbles
making a music
that can't be contained
in words.

the sound of the stream
is as gentle
as gentle can be.

each pebble
feeling the water
flowing over its polished body
rings a tiny water chime


and in the clear air
of a winter morning
mingling
with the water's stony chimes


it's the
slow gentled
music
of my heart
i hear.

35 comments:

Dan Gurney said...

a poet hears stones
singing water music while
stones hear his heart sing

Jinksy said...

The slender tree trunks look as though they are attempting to weave a bridge.

Elisabeth said...

The river, a 'black fluent brushstroke' such a wonderful word image and always accompanied by beautiful photographs.

You bring this ever changing world alive for us Steven. Thank you.

Dervish said...

this post is lovely. it reminds me of dame satan's song of the same name... i especially like the first picture; peaceful, but slightly eery.

steven said...

dan those are beautiful words and i'm grateful that you have shared them here! have a peaceful day. steven

Pauline said...

Water/stone chimes - such a peaceful, gorgeous way to start a winter day - thanks!

steven said...

jinksy - you're so right! it's several brothers ans sisters who fell over in a wind storm. i imagine they are closer than they might choose to be but with a beautiful view!! have a lovely day. steven

steven said...

elisabeth - it's a very smal part of this world. i hope that my sharing of it reveals something of the deep awe i have for it. have a lovely day. steven

steven said...

dervish, i'm not familiar with the dame satan song but i do know that the day i took these photographs it was mild enough that the snow was rising as fog. that's what gives the "eery" appearance. dad

steven said...

hello pauline - i'm glad that you enjoyed your visit here. have a lovely day. steven

Golden West said...

Thank you for taking me along on another journey into the sublime.

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

so in tune, steven.

Reya Mellicker said...

We are so lucky to live in such a watery world, aren't we?

Jenny Stevning said...

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

Linda Sue said...

This is where I go when I need comfort, a bit of biggness, outside myself- thank you, Steven.
When I had surgery and was on lovely morphine I listened to the snow on the television- what sounded like irritating static to every one else sounded like the rush of a creek over boulders and stones-soothing- comforting.As a child I spent hours alone, by and in the creeks, got swept away , in ever sense.
Still cold up there! Our weather is SO strange, I am loving it!

Tess Kincaid said...

I tried to choose my favorite pic and couldn't. They're all marvelous.

The Weaver of Grass said...

tiny water chime - I like that Steven. I love all your posts but especially those where you take us on a wander through your local scenery - this woodland looks magical in the snow.

Kay said...

stunning pictures....also loved dans words..and yours ...of course!!xx

Susie Hemingway said...

Beautiful poetry and beautiful images - what more could one need -music to my soul indeed.

Anonymous said...

It looks pretty damn cold by you. Though astounding pictures.
I just visited the irrepressible Linda Sue with her spring post
weaver of grass in England had a super spring post.
I'm jealous.

zero zilch zip here in ny.

You often comment on my older blog
for my more personal one go to
elizabethwix.com

The snow flakes make it even chillier.....

Acornmoon said...

I am trying to think of something profound to say to be worthy of your blog, sadly words fail me! but I did enjoy your photographs.

steven said...

golden west you're welcome along anytime!!! steven

steven said...

bonnie - it was real music - so simple, so good. steven

steven said...

reya i'm a leo - august 5 - and water is really intriguing to me to watch in all its forms. i don';t much like being in it but to see it show up as snow, ice, rain, puddles, lakes, rivers or whatever form is magic to me. have a lovely dc evening. steven

steven said...

hello jenny stevning - thankyou for the many many stars!!! they make up for all the ones above the clouds that i know are there but can't see!!! steven

steven said...

linda sue - i had surgery a few years back and the anaesthetist was a friend. he asked me: "how much snow would you like? i can really snow you under or you can have a little bit of a snowfall - say two hours." i took the two hour snowfall. the rush as the chemicals move through is pure bliss!!! ha! steven

steven said...

hi willow - thankyou for that. i like each for details inside them. i'm glad you enjoyed your visit here. have a lovely evening at the manor. steven

steven said...

hello weaver - i love the walks through the fields and woods ' round here - indeed i love the walks through many of my bloggy chums areas - the dales are high up there as you know!!! have a lovely warm evening in the dale. steven

steven said...

kay thanks for noticing dan's words. i'm thinking i might create another post with them. i'll ask him first. have a lovely evening. steven

steven said...

hello susie - the comments are such an added gift in the whole blogging process aren't they!! i am so glad that you enjoyed your visit here. have a peaceful evening. steven

steven said...

hi elizabeth - thanks for the links to your newer blog - i haven't updated that link and keep going to your old house! it's been fairly mild by canadian winter standards - two weeks of just below or slightly above zero. only one major winter storm - i shouldn't say those things because you know what happens next right?! have a lovely nyc evening. steven

steven said...

acornmoon - i am simply glad that you came to visit and thankyou so much for your kind comment here. never mind about the brilliant remarks!!! steven

Crafty Green Poet said...

the whole post is lovely but particualrly the stone chimes

Bee said...

I particularly love that first photograph. It is simple and elegant.

Stacey J. Warner said...

love this

and in the clear air
of a winter morning
mingling
with the water's stony chimes

amazing photos...