lucy creates!!!

by Hafiz

2010-05-31T18:32:00.000-07:00

God
and I have become
Like two giant fat people
Living in a
Tiny boat.
We
Keep
Bumping into each other and
L
A
U
G
H
I
N
G

a mother's day tribute

2010-05-09T12:34:00.000-07:00

The Lanyard - Billy Collins

The other day I was ricocheting slowly
off the blue walls of this room,
moving as if underwater from typewriter to piano,
from bookshelf to an envelope lying on the floor,
when I found myself in the L section of the dictionary
where my eyes fell upon the word lanyard.

No cookie nibbled by a French novelist
could send one into the past more suddenly—
a past where I sat at a workbench at a camp
by a deep Adirondack lake
learning how to braid long thin plastic strips
into a lanyard, a gift for my mother.

I had never seen anyone use a lanyard
or wear one, if that’s what you did with them,
but that did not keep me from crossing
strand over strand again and again
until I had made a boxy
red and white lanyard for my mother.

She gave me life and milk from her breasts,
and I gave her a lanyard.
She nursed me in many a sick room,
lifted spoons of medicine to my lips,
laid cold face-cloths on my forehead,
and then led me out into the airy light

and taught me to walk and swim,
and I, in turn, presented her with a lanyard.
Here are thousands of meals, she said,
and here is clothing and a good education.
And here is your lanyard, I replied,
which I made with a little help from a counselor.

Here is a breathing body and a beating heart,
strong legs, bones and teeth,
and two clear eyes to read the world, she whispered,
and here, I said, is the lanyard I made at camp.
And here, I wish to say to her now,
is a smaller gift—not the worn truth

that you can never repay your mother,
but the rueful admission that when she took
the two-tone lanyard from my hand,
I was as sure as a boy could be
that this useless, worthless thing I wove
out of boredom would be enough to make us even.

Included in the FORTHCOMING book (OCT 2005), The Trouble with Poetry. Purchase from Amazon (here).

hours of the day

2010-03-22T17:14:00.000-07:00

For more description of these hours of the day, visit dawn, day, dusk & dark.

a therapist for the vicar?

2010-03-20T12:05:00.000-07:00

Trough

2010-02-05T10:45:00.000-08:00

There is a trough in waves,
A low spot
Where horizon disappears
And only sky
And water
Are our company.

And there we lose our way
Unless
We rest, knowing the wave will bring us
To its crest again.

There we may drown
If we let fear
Hold us within its grip and shake us
Side to side,
And leave us flailing, torn, disoriented.

But if we rest there
In the trough,
Are silent,
Being with
the low part of the wave,
Keeping
Our energy and
Noticing the shape of things,
The flow,
Then time alone
Will bring us to another
Place
Where we can see
Horizon, see the land again,
Regain our sense
Of where
We are,
And were we need to swim.

by Judy Brown

Water Reflections

2010-01-31T11:43:00.000-08:00

The following quote comes from this delightful post. Read the quote and tell me if you don't think this is really very cool?!?!??!

“You exhale roughly a liter of water per day into the atmosphere, and most of this water rains or snows back down again within about a week’s time. The total global precipitation is about 1,000,000,000,000,000 (one quadrillion) times greater than the amount of water you exhale, so your impact on the weather is pretty minor.
But even if you contribute only one quadrillionth of the total water content in a snowflake, that is still about 1,000 molecules. It depends on how well things are mixed in the atmosphere, but there are probably, very roughly, about a thousand of your molecules in every snowflake.”

photo december, 2008... so i wonder how many of my molecules are in this shot taken in my own backyard???

presence knows presence

2010-01-12T09:05:00.000-08:00

"Prayer is not primarily saying words or thinking thoughts. It is, rather, a stance, a way of being present.

It’s a way of living in the Presence, living in awareness of the Presence, and even of enjoying the Presence. Presence knows Presence.

The full contemplative is not just aware of the Presence,

but trusts,
allows,
and delights in it." -- Richard Rohr

january, 2010 morning ©lucy

Water Reflections

2010-01-06T20:02:00.000-08:00

"When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze."

~Isaiah 43:2

photo ©h3images

Water Reflections

2010-01-05T08:54:00.000-08:00

"When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy." -- Rumi

glendolough waterfall © lucy 2009

i want to know...

2009-12-11T07:34:00.000-08:00

I want to know how the waves will hold me. What will be the rise of today; the fall of tonight?

I want to know where God is when my stomach drops as the bottom falls out of the roller coaster.

I want to know where the gentle hands of compassion are. I want to know why sometimes they feel like a vise around my neck.

I want to know how I got to this place and where I will go next.

I want to know if God really listens to prayer or are my words lost in the waves of desire, swirling until I can feel no more.

I want to know - do you (G0d) love me?

"I want to know" was created this week while facilitating others in a deepening spirituality exercise... hmmm. who's facilitating here?

The following haiku was the next step in the exercise.

what will hold me up
when the deep bottom falls out,
when God's hand fails me?

Disposable Child?

2009-12-01T19:04:00.000-08:00

"Hey have you seen the disposable child With sunken cheeks and belly distended Hey have you seen the disposable child Exempted from grace and left undefended Born into a world that's so defiled Well now don't shed a tear he's just a disposable child.

Hey have you heard the disposable child One who's heart should be fillin' with wonder Hey have you heard the disposable child Who spent his youth dodging bullets and thunder Don't waste your time with this soul who's never smiled Now don't shed a tear he's just a disposable child

Hey do you know the disposable child Born into suffering, forced into hiding Hey do you know the disposable child It seems your agenda and his are colliding Asking only for love but feeling so reviled Now don't shed a tear, he's just a disposable child

To whom can you turn my disposable child When heaven and earth have left you forsaken To whom can you turn my disposable child When the winds of neglect leave you tattered and shaken Where the refuse of humanity is piled They don't shed a tear if you're just a disposable child"

--Peter Himmelman

Walkin' on Sunshine Wordle

2009-10-05T12:33:00.000-07:00

I have done wordles before. They are fun and creative and take just a little bit of time to produce a tiny piece of art. This one is a result of my recent post "walkin' on sunshine".

Create your own wordle here.

Poetry Party

2009-06-02T13:21:00.000-07:00

SHADOW
INKY FILIGREED
CONTRASTING HIGHLIGHTING GLORIFYING
LET US BE FRIENDS
TOGETHER

Join the Poetry Party at Abbey of the Arts!!!

See the related post at Diamonds!

mandala

2009-05-26T10:13:00.000-07:00

i just love little bits of serendipitous synchronicity. after being gone for several days at the fabulous awakening the creative spirit program, i came home to peruse my favorite blog sites. i was not surprised at all to see that kel has asked us to create a mandala for her "art attack" and i happen to have one i was going to share from my week. fun, huh?

mandala's are powerful little pieces of healing if you allow yourself to intuitively create and then spend time discerning what might me learned from this bit of creativity. (this one was created in a time span of 45 minutes from selecting images to completed mandala. not too much time to overthink things!!)

please let me know if you decide to create your own!

right-click on the image to see it in larger version.

Calling Me

2009-04-27T10:01:00.001-07:00

The stones cry out saying, “Come. Come.”

Clouds and mist meet earthen fields of green calling, “Come. Come.”

Water whispers, “I will wash you clean. Come. Please come.”

The fire in my belly stirs and answers, “Yes.”

Join the poetry party at Abbey of the Arts!!

resurrection

2009-04-08T11:54:00.000-07:00

from lucy's phone 4.07.09

the world in your hands

2009-03-24T10:22:00.001-07:00

Several weeks ago while creating this collage, I noticed some words on the scraps of paper from where I had cut my images. They were intriguing to me, so I tucked them away for a later time. While I was preparing to cut up more scraps and images in response to my meditation on a healthy body, I ran across the partial poem and decided it was time to find the rest. I offer it here. Enjoy!

Settle for nothing
less than the
object of your desire.

Desire. The weight of. The weight of our
desire. Then laugh, cry, but laugh
more than you cry, and when you hold
the world in your hands, love Her.

--Alma Luz Villanueva from "The Object"

collage by lucy 3.21.09

4 x 4 Fun

2009-02-26T14:37:00.000-08:00

I've been tagged by Elizabeth over at Mindwhisperings. The rules, in her words:
1. Go to the 4th folder where you keep your pictures on your computer.
2. Post the 4th picture in the folder.
3. Explain the photo.
4. Tag 4 fellow bloggers to join in the fun!

This photo is one of those reminders to me that sometimes old friends are the very best thing in the whole world. This is a picture of my dear friend, Kim and her husband Gaylon. Kim and I met when we were 17 years old and were going through rush together at Oklahoma State University. She is from Chickasha, OK and is one of those delightful people who knows no such thing as a one-syllable word. One of my favorite sounds in the whole world is to hear her call me by my little used nickname of Kat which comes out something like this "Kaa-yaa-ttt."

We lost touch for nearly 30 years (how can that be?) and this picture was taken at the wedding of our other dear friend, Theresa. We were (and are) the three Virgos in the Zeta house with our birthday's all falling within a week of each other (same year). I have the distinct honor of being the oldest. When reunited for the wedding, it was like we were all 17 again and no time at all had passed. There is something incredibly wonderful about having friends who knew you when...

Thank you, Elizabeth for this little walk down memory lane. I think I'll go e-mail my amigos, Kim and Theresa!

So, for this one I tag my virtual buddies, Christine, Tess, Sunrise Sister & Rebecca. Anyone else who wants to play, please join in. It's great to see what pops up!

good morning, valentine

2009-02-15T16:54:00.000-08:00

my journal

2009-01-28T17:58:00.000-08:00

a couple of weeks ago, i went on a wonderful adventure in art making with my sister and two of her friends. we traveled to pendleton, oregon and spent one day with a master printmaker and another day learning to make hand-made books. this is the result of my first bookmaking efforts. i like it so much that i can't bring myself to write in it...sigh.

more printing

2009-01-21T16:33:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time there was a cherry blossom that fell from a tree.

The cherry blossom wondered why she had fallen and all of her friends still clung to the branches.

In the end, she realized that falling was inevitable and she patiently waited for the others to join her.

printing

2009-01-20T16:20:00.000-08:00

A blind child
guided by his mother,
admires the cherry blossoms...

--Kikakou

monoprint by lucy made during art class at Crow's Shadow

inspired by Kikakou's haiku

Brazos de Dios

2009-01-13T17:29:00.000-08:00

Fire

2009-01-03T21:41:00.000-08:00

FIRE is my word for 2009...Watch out world!!!

photo © h3images

Happy Birthday to lucy creates!!!

2009-01-01T20:55:00.000-08:00

Launched one year ago today, lucy creates would like to thank all who visit here for your continuing support and inspiration.

I am taking a little break and will return around January 12, 2009.

Happy New Year!!!

seven swans a swimming

2008-12-31T23:27:00.000-08:00

swans? flamingos? water? grass? swimming? standing?? does anyone really care?

Happy New Year!!!

six geese a laying????

2008-12-30T23:10:00.000-08:00

not exactly december...taken june, 2009...bermuda

december views - five golden rings!!!

2008-12-29T10:04:00.000-08:00

december views - four calling birds

2008-12-28T18:06:00.001-08:00

see related post here

sorry to say, these are actually not all "december views" except for the snowy birdhouse. the rest were taken in puerta vallarta, mexico in april of 2008...but the collage and sentiment are definitely december!!!

december views - three french hens...sort of

2008-12-27T17:25:00.000-08:00

december views - boxing day

2008-12-26T17:11:00.000-08:00

Last year on Boxing Day, I was riding a little scooter around the island of Bermuda. Not so this year. The snow still lingers, but has turned more to slush & rain now.

btw--my little Vespa is safe and snug inside my garage.

photo taken 12.22.08 - Ballard

december views - Christmas morning

2008-12-25T23:30:00.000-08:00

all stockings lovingly made by lucy

cinnamon rolls by pillsbury :-)

peace on earth

2008-12-24T18:38:00.000-08:00

december views - see me...talk to me...

2008-12-23T17:31:00.000-08:00

solstice lights

2008-12-22T21:05:00.000-08:00

anybody out there?????

red, white & snow

2008-12-21T16:59:00.000-08:00

all photos taken this morning in my neighborhood by moi, lucy

december views

2008-12-20T19:44:00.000-08:00

2008-12-19T20:12:00.000-08:00

snow day

2008-12-18T18:17:00.000-08:00

december views - the market

2008-12-17T16:31:00.001-08:00

2008-12-16T16:02:00.000-08:00

This was my view today. Spent the day packing and shipping. Check it out here. Peace!

december views

2008-12-15T19:55:00.000-08:00

december views - first snow

2008-12-14T23:27:00.001-08:00

december views - snow & candy cane lane

2008-12-13T22:15:00.000-08:00

december views

2008-12-12T18:09:00.000-08:00

winter sky

2008-12-11T17:23:00.001-08:00

hood canal 12.06.08

december views - morning walk

2008-12-10T17:30:00.000-08:00

This is my yard. These are not my cats. Hmmmmmm?!?!?

A Dahlia for Sunrise Sister.

Reaching Rose

Final Blossoms

reaching

2008-12-09T08:06:00.000-08:00

st. andrew's house forest 12.05.08

hours of a day

2008-12-08T04:31:00.000-08:00

hood canal; union, wa 12.04.08

2008-12-07T19:17:00.000-08:00

Meet Edward...

st. andrew's house 12.03.08

december views

2008-12-06T06:21:00.000-08:00

i am the luscious berry

from "feminine world"

december views

2008-12-05T09:12:00.000-08:00

gone on retreat...

...tell me what you see

collage from all saints/souls workshop 11.08.08

heading across the sound

2008-12-04T06:12:00.000-08:00

photo © h3images

december views - "open vessel"

2008-12-03T05:40:00.000-08:00

"Holding nothing back means holding the intention to be an open vessel, in a daily way."

--Mark Nepo

december views - "golden day"

2008-12-02T05:48:00.000-08:00

photos by lucy 12.01.08 morning walk

introducing december views

2008-12-01T08:25:00.000-08:00

For the month of December, I have decided out to join in the silence with "december views". Check it out here. Who knows what my offerings may look like. Collage, personal photography, shared works. We'll see where the silence leads. I invite my viewers, however, to use as many words as you like! Enjoy!

"bathed in golden light" collage by lucy 12.01.08

The Place I Want to Get Back To

2008-11-26T09:15:00.000-08:00

is where
in the pinewoods
in the moments between
darkness

and first light
two deer
came walking down the hill
and when they saw me

they said to each other, okay,
this one is okay,
let’s see who she is
and why she is sitting

on the ground, like that,
so quiet, as if
asleep, or in a dream,
but, anyway, harmless;

and so they came
on their slender legs
and gazed upon me
not unlike the way

I go out to the dunes and look
and look and look
into the faces of the flowers;
and then one of them leaned forward

and nuzzled my hand, and what can my life
bring to me that could exceed
that brief moment?
For twenty years

I have gone every day to the same woods,
not waiting, exactly, just lingering.
Such gifts, bestowed,
can’t be repeated.

If you want to talk about this
come to visit. I live in the house
near the corner, which I have named
Gratitude.

--Mary Oliver

you decide

2008-11-16T09:37:00.000-08:00

"In making art you declare what is important." from Art and Fear

photo taken @ Safeway

the pulse within

2008-11-10T17:41:00.000-08:00

joy is the word inscribed upon my heart.

even when it brings me tears, perhaps especially then.
even when my heart feels cold, joy beats the pulse within.

words inspired by this photo found at abbey of the arts. hope you will join the invitation to poetry!

awaken to the mystery

2008-11-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

This blessing, "For Presence," by John O'Donohue was offered by Maggie Yowell at the beginning of the SoulCollage workshop I attended on Saturday. The theme of the day was All Souls and All Saints: Honoring our Ancestors. The image is one of the collages that I created during this sacred and holy time.

Awaken to the mystery of being here and enter the quiet immensity of your own presence.

Have joy and peace in the temple of your senses.

Receive encouragement when new frontiers beckon.

Respond to the call of your gift and the courage to follow its path.

Let the flame of anger free you of all falsity.

May warmth of heart keep your presence aflame.

May anxiety never linger about you.

May your outer dignity mirror an inner dignity of soul.

Take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek no attention.

Be consoled in the secret symmetry of your soul.

May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder.

what do you think??

2008-11-05T19:00:00.000-08:00

"People say that what we're all seeking is a meaning for life. I don't think that's what we're really seeking. I think that what we're seeking is an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonances within our own innermost being and reality, so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive." --Joseph Campbell

creative candidates :-)

2008-11-03T07:51:00.000-08:00

extravagance

2008-11-01T10:49:00.000-07:00

"We have very little evidence that sensible and frugal are actually qualities cherished by the Great Creator." --Julia Cameron from The Sound of Paper

photos taken by lucy 11.01.08

from whence shall my help come?

2008-10-30T10:15:00.000-07:00

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From whence shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The Lord will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
THe Lord will guard your going out
and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.

--Psalm 121

wordless wednesday

2008-10-29T11:48:00.000-07:00

piles of purple

2008-10-26T16:03:00.001-07:00

It looks like this post was accurate. Adding a little purple to my life is reintroducing a long dormant passion of mine--quilting. It has also added calm and focus as I find myself delighting in listening to i-tunes while cutting fabric and putting the pieces together like a jigsaw puzzle.

I will keep you posted on this purple project!

space for the mystery

2008-10-21T06:59:00.000-07:00

falling into the mystery
i stand with arms wide open
waiting for the embrace of God
she greets me when i fall
she hears me when i call
leave space for the mystery

ode to the dictionary

2008-10-08T23:33:00.000-07:00

It's time once again for the poetry party at Abbey of the Arts. This contribution might need a bit of translation which can be found at Tess' place. Alas, my own words alluded me and so I chose to have a little fun with Tess' writer's block.

remord materialized.
i had turned a deaf ear to the psithurism of the beautiful golden day.
nevertheless , while walking through the park, apricity stirred my dour mood--
especially when i realized the dog had mistaken me for a fire hydrant and
blessedly i had remained unbepissed.
what a joy to have the words to express my extreme profundity!!!

lectio divina

2008-10-05T12:45:00.000-07:00

"It (lectio divina) is more like one organic process with four "moments"--reading, meditating, praying, contemplating--flowing naturally into one another."

"You may be led to speak from your heart, write in a journal, or express yourself through some artistic medium or movement."

inspiration & quotes from Lectio Divina by Christine Valters Paintner & Lucy Wynkoop

tell me what you see...

2008-10-03T14:21:00.000-07:00

the four nevers...in process...

2008-09-14T12:46:00.000-07:00

...as referenced here.

bounty

2008-09-09T11:09:00.001-07:00

It doesn't have to be
the blue iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few
small stones; just
pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don't try
to make them elaborate, this isn't
a contest but the doorway

into thanks, and a silence in which
another voice may speak.

--Mary Oliver, Thirst

photos by lucy from the san rafael farmer's market

tell me what you see...

2008-09-04T16:16:00.000-07:00

god's special creation!

2008-08-28T08:38:00.000-07:00

here is the little guy who totally stole my heart on the recent "baby road trip". his name is connor. he belongs to my honorary 'daughter' which we decided makes me his honorary grandmother. i couldn't be happier ☺!

the music plays on

2008-08-25T08:59:00.000-07:00

risking delight while the music plays on
harmonious chords break free from unexpected places
joy bursts loose from sorrow
heartstrings plucked out of hollow scores
a tune like we have never heard before
the music plays on

delight risked, all for a new song
sorrow melted away by fresh notes
harsh gongs left behind, if only for a moment,
emptiness disappears
delight takes its place &
the music plays on…

…this time with a slightly new beat

image and poetry party found at abbey of the arts. join the fun here.

2008-08-20T09:47:00.000-07:00

"above all remember that the meaning of life is to build life as if it were a work of art. you're not a machine...start working on this great work of art called your own existence."

--Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

"the maiden" by gustav klimt

the journey

2008-08-09T12:06:00.000-07:00

The Journey

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice --
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do --
determined to save
the only life you could save.

~ Mary Oliver ~

(Dream Work)

2008-08-07T11:54:00.000-07:00

Liminal space.

The place between here and there.

Between now and then.

The threshold of something new.

teardrops ~ tiny reflections of joy and sorrow; wisdom, knowledge and confusion; capturing moments in time

2008-08-06T11:45:00.000-07:00

Taking the hand of a child in our own can connect us to our unique, special childlikeness.

Listening to the birds of the air can stir our hearts to sing—to play—to soar.

teardrops ~ tiny reflections of joy and sorrow; wisdom, knowledge and confusion; capturing moments in time

2008-08-03T06:47:00.000-07:00

Watching the moments of time slip through my fingers.
Am I waiting or am I wasting?
How will I know the difference?

teardrops ~ tiny reflections of joy and sorrow; wisdom, knowledge and confusion; capturing moments in time

2008-08-02T06:44:00.000-07:00

Hey, creative spirit!

Are you sleeping?
Or just at rest?

teardrops ~ tiny reflections of joy and sorrow; wisdom, knowledge and confusion; capturing moments in time

2008-07-31T06:40:00.000-07:00

When did God start to speak so clearly?

When did I start to listen?

teardrops ~ tiny reflections of joy and sorrow; wisdom, knowledge and confusion; capturing moments in time

2008-07-30T11:00:00.001-07:00

The paradox of whittling.
Shaving away the hurt and sorrow.
Letting it go.
Picking it up.
Learning from the whittling.
Again and again.

teardrops ~ tiny reflections of joy and sorrow; wisdom, knowledge and confusion; capturing moments in time

2008-07-27T06:56:00.000-07:00

Let go of what does not fit.

Surrender to gratitude and delight.

teardrops ~ tiny reflections of joy and sorrow; wisdom, knowledge and confusion; capturing moments in time

2008-07-26T06:53:00.000-07:00

On the fringe. One foot in and one foot out. Put on the mask and step into the illusion. Leave off the mask. Step into truth. In or out? What will it be today?

teardrops ~ tiny reflections of joy and sorrow; wisdom, knowledge and confusion; capturing moments in time

2008-07-25T08:39:00.000-07:00

Soul work. Whittling away. Letting go again and again, because I continue to pick up the broken pieces.

teardrops ~ tiny reflections of joy and sorrow; wisdom, knowledge and confusion; capturing moments in time

2008-07-22T08:42:00.001-07:00

Whittling away at the carving of my life. The shavings have much to say.

teardrops ~ tiny reflections of joy and sorrow; wisdom, knowledge and confusion; capturing moments in time

2008-07-19T06:29:00.000-07:00

Accept. Don’t Expect.

teardrops ~ tiny reflections of joy and sorrow; wisdom, knowledge and confusion; capturing moments in time

2008-07-18T06:25:00.000-07:00

It is impossible to meet the expectations of friendship—ours or theirs.
I can, however, be grateful for what is—for who we are together and apart.
I can consider the relationship with grateful expectancy versus unattainable expectations.

teardrops ~ tiny reflections of joy and sorrow; wisdom, knowledge and confusion; capturing moments in time

2008-07-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

Home. Where every part of me comes together (if only for a moment) and I am at peace.

teardrops ~ tiny reflections of joy and sorrow; wisdom, knowledge and confusion; capturing moments in time

2008-07-15T06:57:00.000-07:00

What is my role here? And, why in this place where I should feel most at home—most like Me—do I feel so alone?

teardrops ~ tiny reflections of joy and sorrow; wisdom, knowledge and confusion; capturing moments in time

2008-07-13T08:51:00.000-07:00

What I say may not be what you hear.

teardrops ~ tiny reflections of joy and sorrow; wisdom, knowledge and confusion; capturing moments in time

flickr fun

2008-07-08T14:02:00.000-07:00

1. Succede che ti si squaglia il cuore, 2. 16/365 - Finals Week, 3. NYC - Metropolitan Museum of Art - Youthful Hercules, 4. The Photographer, 5. +[ Johnny Depp: drop dead gorgeous ]+, 6. Chardonnay!, 7. Last day in Paris, 8. Wedding on Your Mind, 9. That's, uh, some lightning you've got there., 10. When Waves Collide, 11. Something wonderful happens in Summer, 12. The World Looks So Good When You’re Wearing Heart Socks

Above is a fun flickr meme that I've seen floating around the internet. I found it at Creative Everyday. I have been curious about the collage technique with photos and so decided to give it a creative try. It's great fun when you don't want to drag out all of the art supplies. Give it a try. Here's the idea behind the meme:

Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr search.
Using only the first page, choose an image.
Copy and paste each of the URL’s into the mosaic maker over at FD's image maker.

The questions:
What is your first name?
What is your favorite food?
What high school did you attend?
What is your favorite color?
Who is your celebrity crush?
Favorite drink?
Dream vacation?
Favorite dessert?
What do you want to be when you grow up?
What do you love most in life?
One word to describe you.
Your Flickr name

Be sure to let me know if you post your own!!!

just playing...

2008-07-03T15:57:00.000-07:00

Poetry Party

2008-07-01T06:59:00.000-07:00

Today's post is inspired by this lovely photograph and poetry prompt found at Abbey of the Arts. I hope you, too, will choose to join the party here.

paralyzed
I refuse to choose and
so the doors that lie before me
remain forever unopened

some sit ajar…just a bit
a crack to let light in
brightening the shadows of “what if”…just a bit
immobile, however,
the hinges grow stiff in their waiting

possibility remains trapped,
paralyzed behind the door
I refuse to let swing wide
saying to myself,
“what if it’s the wrong door?”

Where do you find yourself refusing to choose--either by keeping too many doors open or refusing to let new ones filled with possibility swing wide?

photo by Christine Paintner

supporting the arts

2008-06-20T14:15:00.000-07:00

well, i made another donation to the arts today. this time it was in the form of a $25 entry fee for the antigonish review poetry contest. (oh, i also sent a few poems along with the donation). some lucky poet will have the pleasure of winning an award and being published. i can at least say i had a small part in it.

it's not too late to make your own "donation." contest ends june 30.

beauty distorted

2008-06-18T17:37:00.000-07:00

abbey of the arts had a fabulous post today called "radical hospitality." i found it to be quite thought provoking and inspirational. pop on over and take a read.

ugliness knocks at my inner door
“go away” I say. “leave me alone.
I left you far behind long ago.”
but no. he is persistent.
he bangs & clangs the knocker.
“I am here and here I will stay
until you look me in the eye.”
I cover my own eyes as if I have
just stepped out of the darkness
into a blaring headlight.
it hurts and I shrink back for
I do not want to look ugliness in the eye.

he has followed me too long and
too far until I find myself
hiding from his face of derision
“time to work with me” he says
“it is time and you have run too long.”
ugliness is his name and I must
invite him in.
I cry. I weep. I moan.
it hurts too much to look in that mirror.
face twisted. beauty distorted.

ah, is that who ugliness is?
beauty distorted
gifts turned on their side
passion crying to be met
holding. weeping.
loneliness.
I fear it and so I close the door
and make myself alone.
I twist beauty into a mangled mess
and then I spit it out.

ugliness has come knocking at my door
“let me in” he says. “look at me. I am yours.”
he holds the mirror to my face
and shows me what I long for
aching to release hurt and loneliness.
oh Lord will I never come out of this
painful circle?
the cycle that keeps me alone
that pushes others away and holds
beauty’s distortion

ugliness has come knocking at my door
how will I invite him in?
gently, kindly. can I do it?
“take a look at me” he says.
“I am yours.”
I see mere shadow
growing in twilight,
dancing in moonglow,
going on his way
I open my eyes to see that
he is simply beauty distorted
the door is wide and
we are released

hooray for me...

2008-06-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

...i just stepped through one little layer of fear and doubt and sent off a short-short fiction submission to the new millennium writings contest. hooray for me!!

whatever was i thinking?!?!??!?!?!

tell me what you see...

2008-06-13T09:28:00.000-07:00

clear-eyed freedom

2008-06-10T16:12:00.000-07:00

This week at Abbey of the Arts, Christine offers this incredible image along with her poetry prompt. When I looked at this magical bird all I could see was "freedom." So, this time rather than drawing on my own words (which seem sparse in comparison to the image) I am choosing to share this piece of work from John O'Donohue. I hope you will head on over to the poetry party and leave your own interpretation!

“as a bird soars high
in the free holding of the wind,
clear of the certainty of ground,
opening the imagination of wings
into the grace of emptiness to fulfill new voyagings,
may your life awaken
to the call of its freedom.”

from To Bless the Space Between Us