Monday, October 4, 2010

first frost

the gauzy edge
of her breath


whispers remorse


even as the touch of her lips
transmutes
their emerald hands
into tumbling prayer flags

18 comments:

Dan Gurney said...

Oh, my! Such lovely poetry, steven. Not to mention the images. Thank you!

Lorenzo — Alchemist's Pillow said...

The imagery in your words is as striking and beautifully arresting as the photos, which are wonderful. The 'gauzy edge of her breath', the 'emerald hands' transmuted into 'tumbling prayer flags', such things can only come from an exquisite eye and pen.

I sometimes want to go back to my old strategy of using a code word or number ("23", let's say) as a stand-in for saying "sublime, beautiful, inspiring ...". But I normally opt for contented grateful silence on my daily visits here. There are some days, however, like today, that I just have to say it: "23".

steven said...

dan thankyou. the roofs have a film of white frost this morning and that's what inspired the words. steven

steven said...

lorenzo thankyou for your generous response!!! steven

Elisabeth said...

The detail on these leaves is rich with decay and abundance - strange bedfellows.

steven said...

beautifully observed elisabeth!!! steven

Golden West said...

It would be a blessing to age as gracefully as these leaves.

Tess Kincaid said...

You know I'm in heaven here. xx

Jinksy said...

Gems at every turn...

Ruth said...

I'm with Elisabeth, and you, and I have always thought decay and abundance are rich bedfellows. Like Lorenzo, I couldn't resist commenting today either, on such beauty.

Deep thanks for this.

ellen abbott said...

I'm loving these leaf photos. this last one today is so amazing. Still can't get over that deep midnight blue in the leaves.

Linda Sue said...

The leaves certainly look like elderly hands, on their way out, I love the likening to prayer flags.

steven said...

golden west i think that you and i and many other visitors here will do just that!!! steven

steven said...

willow - is this what it looks like?!! not bad!!! steven

steven said...

jinksy with every puff of the wind. with every falling leaf. steven

steven said...

ruth - it's the seeing of what's there for all to see. that's what's truly amazing about these photos. i really admired elisabeth's words as capturing something very essential. i'm glad people read the comments of others!!! steven

steven said...

ellen - i am amazed also and i haven't had time to gather more and get in close but i'm hoping tomorrow will afford me a few moments. steven

steven said...

linda sue thanks for the words today and in the last installment of leaves. i am amazed at the colours and aged wrinkliness of these leaves. like old hands. like people. fluttering from up high and then returning to the earth in a display of splendour. steven