At 7 in the morning
the leaves on each plant and every tree
channel the sun.
They haul fire without effort
like bird wings soaring, gliding.
No movement,
no flame,
they burn
into air. - -
Lovely picture. We saw gorgeous mountain flowers these last two weeks, and I so wish I had your eye for detail while taking photographs. Just lovely. :) M
Lovely contrasts in both your poem and your picture, Ruth. It is the ying and the yang thing that makes life so sweet, isn't it? Thanks for making a very pleasant moment in my morning!
Smiling a bit here. Mary Ellen focused on the poem's light, while I only felt the heat: "sun", "fire", "flame", and "burn".
It's a wonderful example of how experiences influence our appropriation of writing. I've bookmarked this to read again when our heat indices aren't 110-120 on a daily basis!
I wish I would be an early riser because I love mornings (but I'm not, I'm a night owl).
Really important post the previous one, "Home". I've seen the photos of Arthus-Bertrand before (there was an outdoor exhibition in the capital centre one summer) and it's such magnificent work. As an environmentalist I've known about the massive problems we have for a long time before they came to public knowledge and I'm truly worried because I think we're not acting fast enough. And then there are countries like China where the problems go way beyond environmental... *sigh*
Love the photo, love the poem. Isn't it funny, what each of us chooses to focus on. Some the light, some the heat, me the "channeling","no movement", "burn/into air." Don't know why. I'll be back for this one, too. So very glad you are writing them.
Ummmm.. am I going crazy, or have you revised the page placement for the poem, if not the words and/or punctuation? Maybe it's only that I'm more awake, but it seems to flow more easily for me.
Love the imagery and especially the phrase, "haul the fire" -- great idea to write poems inspired by photographs. I have a few poems on my blog too. Perhaps you'll stop by sometime. http://zenequus.blogspot.com/
Oh dear, Linda! I've heard from my daughter's future MIL that TX is miserably hot right now! She also said next week should be in the 90s. That sounds cool.
Annie, I am only now discovering Yann - we in the U.S. haven't heard much about him yet. I'm so glad for the introduction.
Thank you for noticing sweet Mera at small. She plopped down on the hammock after playing with her brother and posed for several photos. The lighting in the shade was perfect.
João, only sometimes here it gets that hot. When it does, we melt. Maybe in Spain it is hot through the summer. But you are wise and have siestas I think.
Beautiful poetry to accompany the beautiful picture....I felt the sun's warmth when I read it.
ReplyDeleteThey do indeed, especially after last night's rain to help them glisten.
ReplyDeleteThe colors and perspective in that photo are so warm and lovely...a poem in itself...and the poem has captured a beautiful moment...like a photo:)
ReplyDeleteLovely picture. We saw gorgeous mountain flowers these last two weeks, and I so wish I had your eye for detail while taking photographs. Just lovely. :) M
ReplyDeleteI love the depth of field on this photo with the blur of the old wooden chair in the background. Lovely poem, too. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLovely contrasts in both your poem and your picture, Ruth. It is the ying and the yang thing that makes life so sweet, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteThanks for making a very pleasant moment in my morning!
So I wonder - what in me is naturally primed to follow the source of light?
ReplyDeleteSmiling a bit here. Mary Ellen focused on the poem's light, while I only felt the heat: "sun", "fire", "flame", and "burn".
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonderful example of how experiences influence our appropriation of writing. I've bookmarked this to read again when our heat indices aren't 110-120 on a daily basis!
heat generates light Ruth
ReplyDelete'Let there be heat' should replace 'Let there be light' in the Bible.
a little moisture and we have life.
I wish I would be an early riser because I love mornings (but I'm not, I'm a night owl).
ReplyDeleteReally important post the previous one, "Home". I've seen the photos of Arthus-Bertrand before (there was an outdoor exhibition in the capital centre one summer) and it's such magnificent work. As an environmentalist I've known about the massive problems we have for a long time before they came to public knowledge and I'm truly worried because I think we're not acting fast enough. And then there are countries like China where the problems go way beyond environmental... *sigh*
PS. The pic in your "small" blog is adorable. :-)
Ruth, this is a painting. I don't even try to paint any longer and I am thinking of picking up my watercolor pencils and at least trying to sketch.
ReplyDeleteLove the photo, love the poem. Isn't it funny, what each of us chooses to focus on. Some the light, some the heat, me the "channeling","no movement", "burn/into air." Don't know why. I'll be back for this one, too. So very glad you are writing them.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sentiment and picture for a Sunday morning. Could that red and yellow be any more luscious?
ReplyDeleteWonderful gift for any morning... thanks!
ReplyDeleteNice, natural "heat"!
ReplyDeleteUmmmm.. am I going crazy, or have you revised the page placement for the poem, if not the words and/or punctuation? Maybe it's only that I'm more awake, but it seems to flow more easily for me.
ReplyDelete"haul fire" - Love that image.
ReplyDeletelovely words to start the day xxxx
ReplyDeleteSummer mornings, before the heat
ReplyDeletewhole world is having a party
everything is taking their chances
before it gets to hot
to move
Lovely thought and picture to illustrate it. You are a word master.
ReplyDeleteLove the imagery and especially the phrase, "haul the fire" -- great idea to write poems inspired by photographs.
ReplyDeleteI have a few poems on my blog too. Perhaps you'll stop by sometime.
http://zenequus.blogspot.com/
Susie, it's strange that I wasn't thinking about heat when I wrote it.
ReplyDeleteBarry, early risers get to see the best sights.
ReplyDeleteOliag, when I realized I could write poems from photographs, it combined my two modes of expression. Thank you for noticing.
ReplyDeleteIf you start, Marion, you'll start to see with your own unique eye. Just let the subject talk to you.
ReplyDeleteIt's true, CottageGirl. I'm about to post about balance.
ReplyDeleteThe sun is our source, Mary Ellen. Just like the plants, animals. We need the energy to live. We turn our faces to it like sunflowers.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, Linda! I've heard from my daughter's future MIL that TX is miserably hot right now! She also said next week should be in the 90s. That sounds cool.
ReplyDeleterauf, maybe light is the spiritual side of the physicality of heat.
ReplyDeleteAnnie, I am only now discovering Yann - we in the U.S. haven't heard much about him yet. I'm so glad for the introduction.
ReplyDeleteThank you for noticing sweet Mera at small. She plopped down on the hammock after playing with her brother and posed for several photos. The lighting in the shade was perfect.
I hope you will, California Girl, and show us.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you're like me, DS, thinking like a bird.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nancy, this geranium really is stunning.
ReplyDeleteI love the sense of peace and quiet on Sunday mornings.
Thank you for your fresh visit, Christine.
ReplyDeletePeter, sometimes I forget how much we depend on the sun.
ReplyDeleteNope, Linda, I didn't change a thing. But I always understand a poem better the second read.
ReplyDeleteIt seems effortless, Loring.
ReplyDeleteSally, you need some loveliness with your children's illnesses now. Please take care of yourself too.
ReplyDeleteJoão, only sometimes here it gets that hot. When it does, we melt. Maybe in Spain it is hot through the summer. But you are wise and have siestas I think.
ReplyDeleteWell you're kind, Sue. You must be so excited for Africa!
ReplyDeleteHi and welcome, Debbie. You have a lovely blog. Thank you for your feedback on my poem and photo. Nice thoughts on art in your post.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful geranium and great early morning poem :-)
ReplyDeleteDutchbaby - don't you love Sunday mornings?!
ReplyDelete