Thursday, January 6, 2011

temple bells

sometimes water is flung through the air
as a wave crashes ashore

it forms into small rivulets
that trickle down the back of great boulders

and gathers
in the hollows of those great boulders
to sing its songs and tell its stories
before returning to the sea


some of my favourite songs
are held
in that wave-born ice


the song of the icicles
that drip onto the back of my hand

the song of the pebbles
that press warmly against my outspread palm


at

22 comments:

  1. ellen abbottJanuary 6, 2011 at 12:56 AM

    amazing photos steven. icicles as song, each drip a ping of a note.

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  2. Linda SueJanuary 6, 2011 at 1:23 AM

    Oh WOW these photos are amazing- incredibly clear- I am so struck by them I have to go back and read what you have written - The ice is making me thirsty- I want to drink it! Preferably in gin...

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  3. agujaJanuary 6, 2011 at 6:11 AM

    I always think of water as singing songs and telling stories as it travels. The ice and the words gel baeutifully in this post.

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  4. Tess KincaidJanuary 6, 2011 at 6:59 AM

    Stunning photos, lovely thoughts, Steven. They're magical and spiritual, just like temple bells.

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  5. Reya MellickerJanuary 6, 2011 at 9:03 AM

    Beautiful images and words, of course!

    I figured out yesterday that I love ice because it slows everything, it slows time, I swear.

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  6. UnknownJanuary 6, 2011 at 11:43 AM

    Slowing the massive, ever moving waters of the earth down to drips from icicles is a very creative and different way to become "one with sea". You don't have to conquer it or travel through it's waves, you only have to listen to it's stories..... mystical..... and touch the water dripping from the icicles. Melting icicles that sound like temple bells ringing. What a wonderful journey! Thank you Steven.

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  7. FrikoJanuary 6, 2011 at 2:41 PM

    I really wish I too could see things the way you see them and capture them n a few words.

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  8. JoJanuary 6, 2011 at 3:57 PM

    Your words are beautiful, but myohmy your images are wondrous. Most certainly makes me wish I were there to tear off my gloves and touch the fragile singing sculptures!

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  9. stevenJanuary 6, 2011 at 5:12 PM

    ellen - i also thought of pipe organs but these have a more glassy sound. steven

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  10. stevenJanuary 6, 2011 at 5:13 PM

    linda sue - icicles in gin - or freezer vodka with cranberries - outstanding wintry fare! steven

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  11. stevenJanuary 6, 2011 at 5:14 PM

    aguja - the stories of water - passing through bodies, passing through bodies of water, air born, rain, fog, snow, ice..... the stories throughout the history of this planet. oh it leaves me breathless and heart racing. steven

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  12. stevenJanuary 6, 2011 at 5:15 PM

    tess - yes, they're hovering caught between solid and liquid states. slowly flowing back . . .so slowly. steven

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  13. stevenJanuary 6, 2011 at 5:15 PM

    reya - the making and melting of ice. ice in the wild that is . . . time is slowed down immensely. glacial. steven

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  14. stevenJanuary 6, 2011 at 5:17 PM

    linda thankyou - you're very welcome! i really appreciate your thoughts on learning some of the stories of water. getting close to ice and seeing its forms, its colours, even its little bits of plants and bugs and feathers and stone and shell and whatever else has passed through and beside it is amazing. steven

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  15. Dulçe ♥January 6, 2011 at 5:18 PM

    You Steven are an artist of the mind and soul... absolutely.
    and I love this in all the senses of the word 'love', because i feel it in all of my senses... and saying 'this is beautiful' would be so scarce...
    D.

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  16. stevenJanuary 6, 2011 at 5:18 PM

    friko - i wish i could write stories that carry themselves and the reader for a journey they don't want to stop. you can do that!! steven

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  17. stevenJanuary 6, 2011 at 5:19 PM

    jo - yes! i touched them so carefully because they are very fragile and very cold even though they were melting as i took the pictures and sat there just looking and looking! steven

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  18. stevenJanuary 6, 2011 at 5:27 PM

    dulce - i arrived at this place about two years ago and i've been making myself at home in it ever since. i've always appreciated my place in this world but i am learning to express that same appreciation to the rest of my little part of the world. i am so grateful for your comment! steven

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  19. Dejemonos sorprenderJanuary 6, 2011 at 6:35 PM

    Hi Steven! great captures.. forms are wonderful!
    Thanks.. Greetings..

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  20. stevenJanuary 6, 2011 at 7:02 PM

    hello d.s. (i would like to call you by your name but i'll go with the initials of your blog for now). thankyou very much. steven

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  21. WordsPoeticallyWorthJanuary 7, 2011 at 7:22 AM

    Wonderful images!

    Thank you. Love love, Andrew. Take wonderful and gentle care. Bye.

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  22. Noelle ClearwaterJanuary 30, 2011 at 1:48 AM

    Beautiful images and incredible connection with water and its natural journey. Almost a "music of the spheres" kind of feeling to this one. Very nice.
    ~Noelle

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