she grows at the entrance to one of the little places
from her pursed mouth
come welcome words -
lip-blown and sure -
"oh come child, come and see what awaits"
and so, i follow the sweetness of her breath
drawn in by her petalled whispery words
along the wind-furrowed leafy channels
i crawl and tunnel
past the soft shiverings
and sweet touches
of moss and lichen
where i am brought to exclaim at each and every
of their small wonders
somehow made large in my eyes -
large enough to make me exclaim out loud
"hush"
she implores
"let me wonder at your passage
through a world you must come to know.
you are welcome to be present,
but in angelic guise"
28 comments:
I love the way you use quiet thoughts and words to get your point across. Your comments always make me think in the most wonderful ways.
Vita Sackville West says in one of her books - why is it that flowers and plants in general seed themselves in places where we would never have planted them and yet look so beautiful there.
I remember many years ago visiting a church in Shropshire - I don't remember the church - or the place - but I do remember the most beautiful violet beautifully placed between the steps going up to the door.
Your first photo reminded me of it - I have not thought of it for years so thanks for that.
This post about small wonders brought to mind the paradoxical effect of attention with regard to wonder. For it seems to me that when we investigate small wonders like the ones you describe here they grow in wonder. Our attention enlarges small wonders as you describe here.
But the opposite seems to happen with "large wonders" say a very famous person. (Bob Dylan comes to mind as I just saw a two-part documentary about him in honor of his 70th.) When we investigate "large" wonders they seem to become less magnificently wondrous and simply wondrous in an ordinary way, like any small wonder.
So very sensual. Two of my favorite things in the whole world are moss and little acorn caps.
By the way, I ate bologna and Miracle Whip on fluffy white Wonder bread sandwiches with my grape Kool-aid.
sweet
Small and large wonders, yes, in angelic guise.
I read your passage while listening to Brian Eno, thanks to your recommendation and Brendan's. How it opens and greens everything, in gentle ways. Thank you.
I always walk in your words and through the photographs of these magic woodlands.
Perhaps if we did tred more lightly, nature would be happier to see us. Nicely done!
Hi my friend! :).. nice pictures.. nice worlds.! wish you are very well :)..
Yes, the woodlands whispers just so!
hi radcliffe - it'll probably seem odd or perhaps even predictable but i like to visit here myself. the words and images become someone else's as soon as they are posted. at that moment i can stand back and see something of steven. it's thrilling and frightening. steven
valerianna - when i saw these places i was biking through some woods and i got off to see them. the words were right there. they embarassed me. thanks for getting them. steven
weaver - the very little details and moments carry so much presence, so much weight, so much beyond themsleves. i'm glad to have helped reawaken a treasured memory for you. steven
cool dan! there's definitely an hourglass design to the idea of large and small when we focus our attention on something. perhaps it's much the same as the idea of quality - it's not bound by the paramters of quantity. steven
tess i read your comment back at the manor and laughed!!! so very cool. steven
ellen - as pie, sugar or just the goodness of goodness. steven
reya - those are the words that were right there and i kept them. steven
oh ruth - brian eno has coloured and reminded me of everything and so much else for over thirty five years! i am happy for you that you are enjoying some of his work. steven
aguja - it's such a blessing to have the opportunity to appreciate this world. steven
hope - i'm part of nature and i am glad to wake every morning with the opportunity to share this place with all my fellow living and non-living beings. steven
matias - thanks man! i am well. steven
Um, can I come on some of your walks? Because the photos you take, beautiful, lush, green.
hello lilith - i walk in the area of peterborough, ontario. we've had a very wet and cool spring with a few days of heat and humidity thrown in just so we can wear our cool t-shirts and funky shorts and birks. everything is very green. flowers are arriving - especially the wild ones. the cherry tree has blossomed and is now growing fruit for the birds. steven
How interesting - they embarrassed you...
valerianna - it's a daily experience for me to post my writing and photographs. there's process involved of course and a little of that is beginning to recognize myself - again. long ago i wrote and painted and i knew who i was from the languages i spoke through those two mediums. right now i am still getting past the experience of hearing my own voice and not being used to how it sounds. steven
Your next to last image certainly has the sound of angels' wings!
It's gorgeous. I live in Northern Alberta, also gorgeous but in a different way, less lush, more hardy.
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