Fabulous piece Dave, thanks for sharing. This resonates so much after my week spent exploring old quarries in north Wales. The video too, I often stand at the sea’s edge and think that it’s been doing that since before we were there and we still be doing it after we’re gone. It’s almost too big to imagine.
Exploring old quarries? Oh yeah - that is my idea of fun, for sure. I adore the natural world, but I'm also fascinated by how the things we construct slowly change and often, in the end, become part of the natural world again...
Oh man, you really need to go to North Wales next time you’re over here. And also come here, this part of the moors was one big ironstone mine 150 years ago.
I could hear the sea calling me — to the sea, to the sea — it is quietly doing its thing, as we are busily collecting, sorting, polishing our things, as if they are going to be our saviour. Thoughts and words, love and nourishing food, and the quiet lapping of the sea — now that is what we should live for.
I feel deeply honoured. Thankyou! I love your own work, and I subscribed a while ago as a result - though I am badly behind in my reading because of..... life :)
Also because I am spending more time actually writing. It is close now to 1 full year now since I decided - at the urging of my wonderful partner Meg - to recommence publishing my work after a 22 year silence. My Substack contains quite a bit of work from my "silent" period, and some previously published work from before that, but I have also been writing a lot more.
"Boo!" was written the day before I published it here, so it feels wonderful to me that it connects with other writers whom I admire.
Oh, Dave. I love the idea that "The world is either a mystery we make our way through or the mystery is ourselves and the world tries to make sense of us, while we await the explanation that never ever comes because we no longer know how to listen." I think both things are true, surely. And sometimes, without knowing it, we trip up and can see life tripping up, too, and taking a moment to peek in at us. Isn't that a lovely idea?
"Entropy, of course, will always win" - love what you say about the decay letting objects become truer to the land than they ever were to our intention...that's deep and I'll be thinking about it for a while!! Thank you!
Thankyou. It's hard to express what I mean in just a few words, which is in part why I added the photos. We create objects and structures with intent, for purpose. In the long term - eventually - we either destroy them or we cease to maintain them. That which we do not destroy is then slowly (think the Pyramids) or rapidly (rusty vehicles) repurposed by nature. If we take an even longer timeframe, nature will literally recycle everything (eventually) into its constituent elements - even the more noxious and problematic things like plastic. (Of course a lot of damage will be done in the meantime!)
The Pyramids have only been here for an eye blink.
The very summit of Sagarmatha/Qomolangma is itself made of limestone. The Qomolangma Limestone was once marine sediment, and is fully of fragmentary fossils. Trilobites have been recycled into the highest mountain on Earth....
Who knows - some future highest mountain may have fragments of human fossil.....
It may, indeed! It is so interesting when we expand the time horizon, changes the whole perspective. And not just carbon and other physical objects, the literature, language, poetry...created with such intent!!!
How you are able to see as you wander around Dave. And then convert the scenes into symbols of such clarity. This is just a fantastic piece of work that could be displayed as a walking exhibit in a good old museum... Like the Legion of Honor up the road for instance.
It would be fun to wander through life size images of these scenes with the words coming and going on some flowing display.
Well, my friend, you may not realise how just how much your comment means to me. (The answer is - an enormous amount).
I write for several reasons - one being that it stops my brain from exploding, but another because it is a means of communication.
As you can tell, I'm enjoying the opportunity with Substack to communicate through a combination of image and words. I'm having enormous fun.
I have a largish back catalogue of images that predate my Substack presence, and were taken with no intention of wider use. The photo of the old abandoned flooded church is one of those. The church is just a few metres/yards from our house, on the same street. I took the photo from our canoe as I was paddling down our street during a major flood a couple of years ago.
Other pics are newer. The weird dilapidated iron tower near the river is an example. It was a rainy day on our NZ holiday, just recently. When I spotted it I just HAD to stop. Meg waited patiently in the car while I climbed a fence and splashed off through mud, water and long grass. I had no clear idea what I would use the images for, but I find abandoned places and objects fascinating - in ways that I partly explain in this piece of writing.
One of my favorites in a long time, not just by you but anywhere.
I mean... An old flooded abandoned church... What a symbol for modern culture. Objects become stories, then they become relics, and the story changes... But the original object is still at the center of it.
Thankyou, friend Síodhna. I felt it was time to have a break from nature poetry written around scenes of gorgeous seascapes, but I couldn't help returning to the sea for the final video. The ocean speaks more eloquently than I will ever do...
This chimes loudly for me, Dave. If itwere an allegory for memory - which it might be! - it probably says even more. Wonderful, thoughtful writing. All the best, Richard
Gyre of shape objects splashed across surface created for purpose of living easier yet entropy moves by a force far greater than any object that returns to haunt humanity with a glut of plasticity and floats like the Kayak on the stream of consciousness as flotsam and jetsam belched to purge ways and means to suffocate with the calm lapping tidal tongue that licks the surface sides as a blight cascades to reveal the parasite of consumption in objectification magnified to the Nth degree. Yes I am scared of choking.
I feel a universality exists that you have shown me and a communication that exists between people when they show others a form of art. Thanks returned to you. Sometimes words are a rope that trips.
Beautiful words. Beautiful images. Hypnotic video 💙
Thankyou dear Rena
I was originally planning to end with comment about the natural world, but then I realised that - really - it can speak for itself.....
We just need to listen.
And I know you know how....
Best Wishes - Dave
The mix of words and photos work so well together. Love the water sounds.
Hi Karen
Thankyou! I'm glad you like it.
Yes - the water sounds are for a calm conclusion...
Best Wishes - Dave
Yes indeed thoughts surpass things
Fabulous piece Dave, thanks for sharing. This resonates so much after my week spent exploring old quarries in north Wales. The video too, I often stand at the sea’s edge and think that it’s been doing that since before we were there and we still be doing it after we’re gone. It’s almost too big to imagine.
Best wishes,
UK Dave
Exploring old quarries? Oh yeah - that is my idea of fun, for sure. I adore the natural world, but I'm also fascinated by how the things we construct slowly change and often, in the end, become part of the natural world again...
D :)
Oh man, you really need to go to North Wales next time you’re over here. And also come here, this part of the moors was one big ironstone mine 150 years ago.
D
Sounds good to me, mate. Fun! :)
I could hear the sea calling me — to the sea, to the sea — it is quietly doing its thing, as we are busily collecting, sorting, polishing our things, as if they are going to be our saviour. Thoughts and words, love and nourishing food, and the quiet lapping of the sea — now that is what we should live for.
Yes! Oh yes......
Thankyou my friend...
Best Wishes to you and the family
- Dave and Meg :)
This is just stunning, David.
Dear LeeAnn
I feel deeply honoured. Thankyou! I love your own work, and I subscribed a while ago as a result - though I am badly behind in my reading because of..... life :)
Also because I am spending more time actually writing. It is close now to 1 full year now since I decided - at the urging of my wonderful partner Meg - to recommence publishing my work after a 22 year silence. My Substack contains quite a bit of work from my "silent" period, and some previously published work from before that, but I have also been writing a lot more.
"Boo!" was written the day before I published it here, so it feels wonderful to me that it connects with other writers whom I admire.
You just brightened my morning!
Thankyou again.
Very Best Wishes from Australia - Dave :)
Oh, Dave. I love the idea that "The world is either a mystery we make our way through or the mystery is ourselves and the world tries to make sense of us, while we await the explanation that never ever comes because we no longer know how to listen." I think both things are true, surely. And sometimes, without knowing it, we trip up and can see life tripping up, too, and taking a moment to peek in at us. Isn't that a lovely idea?
Hi my friend!
Yes, I do like that....
a great deal.
Have a gorgeous day!
Best Wishes - Dave :)
"Entropy, of course, will always win" - love what you say about the decay letting objects become truer to the land than they ever were to our intention...that's deep and I'll be thinking about it for a while!! Thank you!
Hi dear Rajani
Thankyou. It's hard to express what I mean in just a few words, which is in part why I added the photos. We create objects and structures with intent, for purpose. In the long term - eventually - we either destroy them or we cease to maintain them. That which we do not destroy is then slowly (think the Pyramids) or rapidly (rusty vehicles) repurposed by nature. If we take an even longer timeframe, nature will literally recycle everything (eventually) into its constituent elements - even the more noxious and problematic things like plastic. (Of course a lot of damage will be done in the meantime!)
The Pyramids have only been here for an eye blink.
The very summit of Sagarmatha/Qomolangma is itself made of limestone. The Qomolangma Limestone was once marine sediment, and is fully of fragmentary fossils. Trilobites have been recycled into the highest mountain on Earth....
Who knows - some future highest mountain may have fragments of human fossil.....
Best Wishes - Dave :)
It may, indeed! It is so interesting when we expand the time horizon, changes the whole perspective. And not just carbon and other physical objects, the literature, language, poetry...created with such intent!!!
How you are able to see as you wander around Dave. And then convert the scenes into symbols of such clarity. This is just a fantastic piece of work that could be displayed as a walking exhibit in a good old museum... Like the Legion of Honor up the road for instance.
It would be fun to wander through life size images of these scenes with the words coming and going on some flowing display.
Beautiful beautiful piece...
Well, my friend, you may not realise how just how much your comment means to me. (The answer is - an enormous amount).
I write for several reasons - one being that it stops my brain from exploding, but another because it is a means of communication.
As you can tell, I'm enjoying the opportunity with Substack to communicate through a combination of image and words. I'm having enormous fun.
I have a largish back catalogue of images that predate my Substack presence, and were taken with no intention of wider use. The photo of the old abandoned flooded church is one of those. The church is just a few metres/yards from our house, on the same street. I took the photo from our canoe as I was paddling down our street during a major flood a couple of years ago.
Other pics are newer. The weird dilapidated iron tower near the river is an example. It was a rainy day on our NZ holiday, just recently. When I spotted it I just HAD to stop. Meg waited patiently in the car while I climbed a fence and splashed off through mud, water and long grass. I had no clear idea what I would use the images for, but I find abandoned places and objects fascinating - in ways that I partly explain in this piece of writing.
I am truly truly delighted that you enjoyed it.
D :)
One of my favorites in a long time, not just by you but anywhere.
I mean... An old flooded abandoned church... What a symbol for modern culture. Objects become stories, then they become relics, and the story changes... But the original object is still at the center of it.
The old church in the flood - it was a fascinating sight....
Lovely, dreamy muse Dave. Great imagery and read.
Thankyou, friend Síodhna. I felt it was time to have a break from nature poetry written around scenes of gorgeous seascapes, but I couldn't help returning to the sea for the final video. The ocean speaks more eloquently than I will ever do...
Best Wishes to you - Dave :)
Love the combination of the words with the pictures with your voice reading it out, so musically, in the background! Enjoyed the experience.
Hi Namratha
Thankyou! I'm delighted that you enjoyed this.
Best Wishes from Australia - Dave :)
Such profound insights, Dave. Beautiful photos 💜
Thankyou, dear Nazish :)
D
This chimes loudly for me, Dave. If itwere an allegory for memory - which it might be! - it probably says even more. Wonderful, thoughtful writing. All the best, Richard
Thanks my friend :)
D
Gyre of shape objects splashed across surface created for purpose of living easier yet entropy moves by a force far greater than any object that returns to haunt humanity with a glut of plasticity and floats like the Kayak on the stream of consciousness as flotsam and jetsam belched to purge ways and means to suffocate with the calm lapping tidal tongue that licks the surface sides as a blight cascades to reveal the parasite of consumption in objectification magnified to the Nth degree. Yes I am scared of choking.
I feel a universality exists that you have shown me and a communication that exists between people when they show others a form of art. Thanks returned to you. Sometimes words are a rope that trips.
Ummm.... Yes!!
What you said :)
And thankyou....
Dave :)
Had me at the use of 'lambent'! Well, before that, actually. Great presentation of words and images.
Ah!
Thankyou friend Alan...
Best Wishes - Dave :)
Such beautiful and important thoughts and photos to embody them.
Thankyou, friend Stephanie.
Best Wishes - Dave :)