I took these two photos today. The top photo is part of my kitchen window shrine. In front of the picture of Jesus is the skeleton of a fish that we found washed up on the beach in Galveston, Texas, many years ago. There were many of these bones, crucifix-shaped, just lying on the dirty sand. We picked them up reverently as they were quite fragile, and packed them into our suitcase. This is the only one left. The bloom is from one of my Orchids Ray gave me for Christrmas. One of the cats broke it off.
The other photo is the dying flame of my green healing meditation candle that I burned yesterday, flickering in front of one of my small collages. The candle burns down, but where does it go? There is no wax anywhere. Only the tiny piece of a wick remains of the tall, thin candle. It's a mystery.
I share with you a poem I love by Dorianne Laux from her amazing book, "What We Carry". Enjoy.
Love & Blessings,
~*~Marion~*~
**************************
Dust
By Dorianne Laux
Someone spoke to me last night,
told me the truth. Just a few words,
but I recognized it.
I knew I should make myself get up,
write it down, but it was late,
and I was exhausted from working
all day in the garden, moving rocks.
Now, I remember only the flavor--
not like food, sweet or sharp.
More like a fine powder, like dust.
And I wasn't elated or frightened,
but simply rapt, aware.
That's how it is sometimes--
God comes to your window,
all bright light and black wings,
and you're just too tired to open it.
**************************************
"The most tangible of all visible mysteries - fire." ~Leigh Hunt
26 comments:
Wow, Marion, those pictures are incredible! They're ethereal and surreal and just gorgeous. Can the orchid bloom the kitty broke be saved? I hope so!
I have simply got to have that S.L.U.T.S. bumper sticker in your sidebar on my blog. I love it!:)
What beautiful pictures - both - and what profound poetry. It's always a pleasure for me to come here. I find such an affinity with you, Marion.
Marion-yeah, me too. always a day late and a penny short. That pic is so weird on top. I stared for five minutes. your friend~rick
Very thought provoking poem.
Being Georgia born, I love the "sluts" emblem!
Pictures and poem were a delight.
Of course, I love SLUTS too!
quid
Oh, I love this, it resonated with me so much, especially the end:
God comes to your window,
all bright light and black wings,
and you're just too tired to open it.
But we are aware, we are aware, and that's the goodness.
I write this, you have provided the most lovely music, "Vincent," who is saying...
"Now I understand what you tried to say to me..."
Your words and images are just beautiful, I am delighted to have found you, Marion!
I have never seen a skeleton such as this. Amazing, as well as the photos that go with the thoughts.
Thanks for your kind comments, everyone. SJ, I'll email you a copy of the picture of the S.L.U.T.S. bumper sticker. Next time I make it to Natchitoches, I'll get you one and send it to you.
Karen, I appreciate your friendship! Blessings!
Rick, I've looked at that fish skeleton for so many years I forgot how unusual it is. Thanks for reminding me. Blessings!
Carmen, then you're a GRITS (Girls Raised in the South) and a SLUTS. LOL! Gotta love the creative use of acronyms. Blessings!
Quid, thank you. Didn't I get that while you, me, Pam and Kelly were in Natchitoches? I'm pretty sure I did. We all need one of those for our cars...but I'm afraid it would cause wrecks. LOL! I have mine on my old desk which is covered in stickers and bumper stickers. Blessings!
Marion! My new blog-friend, I'm so glad you stopped by and enjoyed your visit. Yes, I, too, believe it's the awareness that's important....I now know 3 Marion's in blogland. It's awesome. I lived my entire life and never knew another Marion. I hope you come back often. Blessings!
Glnroz, I'm glad you enjoyed my photos. I appreciate your kind words. Blessings!
Funny, I was just looking at that photo and thinking it looked like a crucifix... then I read on down. Amazing!!
I really like the poem, too. How often do we miss out on what God has for us!?
Oh...and meant to comment on the SLUTS yesterday. I had forgotten about those! I gave mine to my older daughter.
Love the photo with "Yes, I Have a Temper", too, LOL!!!
The still life of Marion...intimate, spiritual. We often get them from the garden, but these are highly personal and I feel a bit the voyeur. You have carved a life and these are shavings, clues to the final work of art.
Love you Marion!
Beautiful images and poetry. You never fail to inspire, Marion!
Kelly, glad you like the photos. I'm trying to lighten up this year. So far, so good. LOL! Blessings!
Annie, the cold (I know Erin & Renee are laughing at me as they have way below zero temps up there in Canada) has me housebound lately and I've been looking closer at my surroundings. I love you, too, dear friend. Glad you're back. Blessings!
Janelle, thank you. I'm happy you were inspired. Blessings!
I love the pictures. That fish looks like Christ on the cross. Has the Catholic Church seen it yet. har har
xoxoxo
Har-har to you, too, Renee. If I weren't so attached to it, I might put it on Ebay. I heard a piece of toast with the image of Jesus once got like $20,000! Glad to see you laughing. I love you! Blessings and thanks for stopping by. I always appreciate your visits, sweet Renee.
The bone is bizarre in a nice way. Looks like some artist has painted the atmosphere behind Jesus.
Love the sacred heart and the candle burning infront. So peaceful and you can feel such a strong spiritual feeling eminating!
We had a plastic cross, I had a clear out and placed them in the dustbin. Over night the bin was set on fire by idiots. All that was left untouched was this orange plastic cross and the wheels of the bin. We knew it was a sign that God had protected us by other people seeing the fire and calling the fire brigade. The bin was right next to our fence. Greatful to near by firends also. It was cool to see everyone astonished how it lay there untouched.
Hugs!
Julie
Julie, I love your miraculous story about the orange plastic cross!! I'm a word collector and your story is going into my collection box. :-) Thanks so much for sharing it. Love & Blessings, artist friend!! Hugs back to you...
That is a lovely collage. And a mystery indeed where it goes as it burns down.
Beautiful pictures and words.
Happy New Year dear wonderful Marion - I love the sheer poetry and artistry of your site. So much to learn. I have stolen a quote from your sidebar for the first page of my new poetry jounal - Breathe in experience, breathe out poetry - who wrote that?
All gorgeous, the pictures, the poignancy of the colour of that orchid, jesus, the skeleton, your handling and packing it, the healing candle and its mystery, god at the window. It's too much right now in this moment, Marion. It is too much but beautiful still.
xo
erin
Thanks for stopping by Angie, Char, Shaista and Erin. I appreciate you all. Blessings!
Shaista, both of those quotes are by Muriel Rukeyser. Awesome, huh?
The pictures pleasing to my eyes and the Poem pleasing to my Soul. I am loving the 'That's how it is sometimes--
God comes to your window,
all bright light and black wings,
and you're just too tired to open it'
Because, yes I am thinking that is exactly how it is!.
Saraha, so happy you enjoyed the poem and pictures. Love & Blessings, dear poet-friend!
How true and how sad. Beautifully pure.
yes those moments that we miss...
i have started waking up at rather odd hours so as not to have to taste that dust of which you so eloquently speak.
Beautiful poem! I love it...and how true, God comes in so many ways, and many times we are shutting ourselves out from that love and that enlightenment. Or worse, we say that we are so busy waiting to hear from God that we don't leave our windows open to listen to God :)
As for your very kind comment on my blog... thank you for your support as always, and if you ever want to hear some of my poetry I will of course send it to you...but I'm far too shy about it to let anyone else read it :)
Blessings and hugs your way!
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