Sunday, January 30, 2011

i cast my net into the sea

in the morning i cast my net into the sea

i dragged up from the dark abyss
things of strange aspect and strange beauty
some shone like a smile,
some glistened like tears,
and some were flushed like the cheeks of a bride


when with the day's burden i went home
my love was sitting in the garden idly
tearing the leaves of a flower


i hesitated for a moment
and then placed at her feet
all that i had dragged up


and stood silent


she glanced at them and said,
'what strange things are these?
i know not of what use they are!'

i bowed my head in shame and thought

'i have not fought for these
i did not buy them in the market;
they are not fit gifts for her.'


then the whole night through
i flung them one by one into the street

in the morning travellers came;
they picked them up and carried them into far countries


all words ~ rabindranath tagore

14 comments:

Dan Gurney said...

Seeing the photos here on this blog inspires me to look out for and see the worlds of beauty all around. Thank you... you bring so much beauty out for us to see.

Noelle Clearwater said...

This is exquisite Steven ~ the images and your choice of Tagore's words. Stunning.
Noelle

The Weaver of Grass said...

Beautiful frosted photographs steven, sad words. I sometimes have brought a pebble home from abroad but this is discouraged now. I do have apiece of etna though.

Reya Mellicker said...

The ocean is truly a different world.

The whole time I lived in San Francisco, I gathered sand dollars every time I went to the beach. I had hundreds of them.

One of the last things I did before I left town was return them to the sea, with love and tenderness, and appreciation for the loan.

Jinksy said...

Exquisite examples of Nature as the supreme artist...

Valerianna said...

I got lost in earthy colors and slippery surfaces. The photos have a familiar, gurgling sound of water running over stones and under ice. Sometimes images have such specific sounds to them. I know its probably because of my synesthesia, but I think many people could sensitize themselves to visual sound and would find themselves enchanted! Thanks for the journey.

ellen abbott said...

I enjoyed this, the pictures, the words.

Ellie Kings said...

Beautiful! The sea is so profound, has much to say and many treasures to hide. Loved it.

Linda Sue said...

Your photos! Wonderful! Frame-able- delish! I collect stones everywhere I go.

alaine@éclectique said...

I love, love, love Rabindranath! I have a small book of his poetry that I treasure!

Beautiful photos, Steven.

Pauline said...

this is too beautiful for words...

SY said...

Aww gift from the heart wasn't accepted so well..
great read
-Sy

Aleks said...

one more proof you are the wizard of ice! That is definitely your element,every single photo that you took of ice and frozen world and shared them on your blogs are breath taking jewels,calling them photos does not do them justice!
Leks

steven said...

hey aleksandra thanks so much. this set of photographs was such a gift i was absolutely blown away - the little ice shells lifting away from the pebbles. wow!!! each little ice shell with tiny little striations. a totally amazing gift that i was and am so thrilled to share. steven