Thursday, June 29, 2017

the ocean

here everyone takes it for granted.
but i know, the great huge pacific
lurks behind the pretty houses and the good restaurants and 
yes,
even this university,
the ocean
where sea serpents and huge weird swimming things
can spring up
arc through the air
and yep, disappear into a dream.
i have only seen glimpses
except the window looks from the plane
dense, fecund, dark and so
beautiful.
maybe i will have 
the least little chance
to put my toes into
the cold salty richness.
~~~
first there was the country's center
where i took no pictures
then montana
or so says my iphoto




 and then the great blue thing
 no mistaking it for lake country

 i have a tiny dorm room
overlooking a parking lot
 i have two dear ones
now in the flesh
persons made real after being etherial 
dear jean and bryan
 and a bombing 
(yarn)
that took place in the student union.
the university of victoria
in the not so but still far away.
where i have the privilege to teach shifu
to amazing and talented students.

Sunday, June 25, 2017

preparations, thinking and doing

nourishing terrains has captured my imagination
and i parallel it with braiding sweetgrass
and i unearthed this book while packing and prepping.
i imagine there may still be places where you can see paintings
that look to me like dreamings
having grown up near the great lakes
instead of my family's west virginia mountains
i feel a connection
ochre.
and now i remember climbing around in the red shale
of the niagara river gorge.

there's even a checkerboard
and a map
oh, love this one rich with imagery
and yet these are drawings of originals
i'm getting tidy here
almost
really
outside robin takes advantage
of a big driveway puddle




and this, this is a photo 
of the rock surface
taken 60 years ago
how lichen is changing the dream.
 this dream 
  my boat here is a pasture.
 where grows poor (wo)man's asparagus
that i didn't harvest
because it's needed by other ones soon.
 and on my morning walk i passed three
barefoot amish boys 
stairstep sized, on their way
perhaps
to sunday church.
my church will be instead
the songbirds
finishing the packing
thinking of the words and love of friends
and family and my love,
as i prepare to rise tomorrow morning
at three or so
to meet the plane in ottawa
for victoria.

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

this day

at the place i call home
where i get to spend more and more time
my love has set up two trail cams
so we can see what the animals are up to.
last night i went through over 700 photos and found a handful of gems.
coyote, porcupine, raccoon, fox, deer, raven, crow
most photos are night taken, they're back and white with bright eye dots.
but then there is this magnificent doe.
 a precious gift.
today is my son ian's birthday.
my solstice child.
here is an image of one of his recent drawings.
he loves to draw home.

solstice today in the north country is cool
stormy skies with strong sunshine peeking through
the birds keep happy and busy.
a happy solstice to you!

Monday, June 19, 2017

all the things

this morning:
four snapping turtles
one walking, two laying eggs, and one road killed
two whitetail yearling does
one kingfisher
one mourning dove
two crows
on the way to my house from Home.
at my house i have a big trip to get ready for:
Victoria, British Columbia: Seattle and Tacoma Washington.
books to sew
paper and supplies to wrap.
organization to attempt.
here's one of a pair of osprey we spotted on vacation

sublime pie in machias
and terrific haddock and clams
 a road killed subject for the sketchbook

 at pbi i met so many remarkable people.
 two young book artists 
had work that moved me deeply
 this is michelle's book 
PARTICULAR
she made the paper and printed it letterpress
it starts quietly and builds
 and builds
 the index
and woody's book 
Words and Vegetables
 this one tickles me
type plays with story and with space
 and this book
parsley
 more typographic play with story integral to that play.
 and I have been reading 
 this book is a long essay about aboriginal ways of living 
how different their relationship to land is compared to the conquerors
a story familiar, like the one here.
only that land is so much more fragile than north america. 
Nourishing Terrains and Braiding Sweetgrass are rich resources 
for my pondering.
 and here is, again, a turtle,
from nourishing terrains in australia
but seen, 
this time of year
 hereabouts on sandy roadsides, 
diligently laying eggs.



Sunday, June 18, 2017

some of the things

what i did on my summer vacation:
well, 
it was this first time i've had a vacation in years!
i played with a (moody) mermaid
walked on water with said mermaid and her friends
and then, oh then there was this place:
schoodic.
 we were chilled on a hot day
and spray-soaked 
and thrilled. like summiting a peak
but better.
the ocean danced with huge rocks
holding fast to the edge.
and our glasses were salt-streaked
my hair another creature completely
we fell in love.
 two days later i met llewyn
on a morning after a sleepless night for his folks
i got his attention for a little bit.
 somehow a new baby becomes
all babies
and you remember your stories
while living this new one.

i'm happy to be more fluent over here
in the blogger of my choice
but will remind all of you dear ones
that you can find my more official self 
at the other place on square space.
that's where books will be sold and events tracked and 
maybe, 
some day, 
a few new things.

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