Thursday, August 25, 2011

riverside


a dusty, narrow, root-crossed trail led steeply downwards to the water's edge.
a tree with a wide strong trunk had grown out over the river.
i crawled on my hands and knees along its rough body
and then straddled it with my legs
until i reached a place where i could see
up and downstream.

at

12 comments:

  1. RuthAugust 25, 2011 at 4:50 AM

    You have offered an image of yourself like this before, in a comment at my place, I think, getting down so low, seeing close what is small, and the bigger piece too. It's beautiful, Steven.

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  2. The Weaver of GrassAugust 25, 2011 at 4:56 AM

    I think my crawling along branch days are long past Steven - but oh how I long to do it sometimes when I see a branch over the water.

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  3. stevenAugust 25, 2011 at 7:32 AM

    ruth - i wrote this piece because it reminded me so much of the process i am passing through as i move into my fifty-fifth lap of the sun and find myself looking for vantage points from which to see the arcs of the past and perhaps catch a glimpse of the arc of the future. i watched myself shimmy out onto this tree and wondered at the boy who still inhabits me!! steven

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  4. stevenAugust 25, 2011 at 7:33 AM

    weaver - your insightful, perceptive and gentle observations of life in the dale are richly rewarding for all who visit!! i'm grateful that you share all that you can from your perspective on solid ground!! steven

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  5. erinAugust 25, 2011 at 8:01 AM

    it is a grand metaphor steven and now i say, ok you adventurer, do it. risk the splinters and the fall. we should all risk the splinters and the fall:)

    xo
    erin

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  6. stevenAugust 25, 2011 at 9:32 AM

    erin - it's the place i am. steven

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  7. R. Burnett BakerAugust 25, 2011 at 10:44 AM

    I'm slightly further along the log than you. But it's true that we do and probably SHOULD cling to those branches of youth, and wonder and living.

    Of course, in my mind I'm 25. In my body...58. Ouch!

    Rick

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  8. R. Burnett BakerAugust 25, 2011 at 10:45 AM

    PS: Very cool header!

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  9. stevenAugust 25, 2011 at 10:55 AM

    ha rick!! you're just ahead of me - fifty-four years are behind me. i hold very tightly to the branches of life - past, present and those still growing!! steven

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  10. stevenAugust 25, 2011 at 10:56 AM

    thanks for the comment about the header photo rick. i was washing my bicycle yesterday and i was unable to take my eyes off the little coloured soap bubbles . . . . parts of me refuse to "grow up". steven

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  11. hopeAugust 25, 2011 at 6:34 PM

    Wonderful words...love the new header!

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  12. stevenAugust 26, 2011 at 8:19 AM

    thankyou very much hope! steven

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