Thankyou, Lori. Sometimes we identify people with places, and find it hard to think of one without the other. Sometimes a much desired destination becomes less important than the journey to get there.
And then time happens.
The action of time upon Memory becomes a winnowing process, blowing away the inessential. In the end, you are left with the elements which seem true and which have become a part of you.
OH! I LOVE this story of the cisterns in the dessert. We had an old cistern when I was growing up. I used to look down at my reflection and wave at myself. And holler down in there, too. Once, when our well water wasn't available...maybe a drought?, my father hooked up the shower to the cistern. I never, ever have had softer hair.
Dave! Water is everything. And the absence of it is everything. In Star Trek Next Generation there is a not-so-great episode where the alien lifeforms call us humans UGLY BAGS OF MOSTLY WATER. hahahahahahahahaha!!
This was a lovely piece. The hills of home. We all have them. The irony is that you had to drive there to find the peace that our petrol-driven society has destroyed. I wonder if we can back-track now?
this was gorgeously moving, David. a couple decades ago I spent 6 weeks in Warmun, and your words and images transported me back to the magic and power of the Bush (from Seattle USA myself so i sadly don’t have much more of a reference than that one experience, timeless though it was). just wondrous! 🌝
Warmun! Wow! I have been there a few times myself. When I lived at Lajamanu, it was not so far away, and I made a trip to Warmun and in to Purnululu. This was way back in the mid 1980's, before it was a National Park.
Later - in the 90's - I worked in adult education and I had a student at Warmun.
It's kind of a remote and unusual place to go to from Seattle....
Meg and I visited Seattle ourselves, briefly, in 2014 - picking up a hire car there and heading for the Yukon to visit her Cousins.
brilliant! nothing in the bush seems very close, so it’s amazing you’ve been there. one of the most amazing experiences of my life, volunteering at what was then called Mirrilingki Spirituality Centre (not sure if it’s still around in some form). I long for another adventure anywhere on that magical land of yours!
Thank you for the spoiler, friend. Damn, this was an excellent preamble and poem.
I new you must have made it through, or else you never could have written the poem about it.
Isn't it interesting that we don't need the suspense of an uncertain outcome to fuel a heroe's journey.
Are you feeling this too these days David? The only real rest my heart finds is when I can feel myself walking within it ... When my eyes are clear enough to see that I am a part of everything and everything is a part of me...
"became a part of me / long before I saw them," - beautiful. There's something about stark landscapes that goes straight to the soul.
Thankyou, Rajani. Yes. Poets - deserts, mountains, sea cliffs.... There will always be stories to tell.
Best Wishes - Dave :)
I have occasionally been worried about forgetting things lately... But then I forget to worry about it
You gave us a tour with the beautiful poem and pictures. Thank you:) I especially liked "for what I see now / is what I saw from the start"
Thankyou Mai - very kind. I hope 2025 is a wonderful year for you!
Best Wishes - Dave :)
That one struck a deep melancholy chord for me. Thank you, David.
Thankyou, Lori. Sometimes we identify people with places, and find it hard to think of one without the other. Sometimes a much desired destination becomes less important than the journey to get there.
And then time happens.
The action of time upon Memory becomes a winnowing process, blowing away the inessential. In the end, you are left with the elements which seem true and which have become a part of you.
Very Best Wishes - Dave
OH! I LOVE this story of the cisterns in the dessert. We had an old cistern when I was growing up. I used to look down at my reflection and wave at myself. And holler down in there, too. Once, when our well water wasn't available...maybe a drought?, my father hooked up the shower to the cistern. I never, ever have had softer hair.
Ah! Water...... we are all so intimately connected with it. We are made of it!
(We are mostly just self-aware salty water)
No wonder we write about it, remember it, dream of it - in all the many forms water comes.
Dave! Water is everything. And the absence of it is everything. In Star Trek Next Generation there is a not-so-great episode where the alien lifeforms call us humans UGLY BAGS OF MOSTLY WATER. hahahahahahahahaha!!
This was a lovely piece. The hills of home. We all have them. The irony is that you had to drive there to find the peace that our petrol-driven society has destroyed. I wonder if we can back-track now?
Thankyou! Yes… ironic. True….
Sigh…
D
this was gorgeously moving, David. a couple decades ago I spent 6 weeks in Warmun, and your words and images transported me back to the magic and power of the Bush (from Seattle USA myself so i sadly don’t have much more of a reference than that one experience, timeless though it was). just wondrous! 🌝
Warmun! Wow! I have been there a few times myself. When I lived at Lajamanu, it was not so far away, and I made a trip to Warmun and in to Purnululu. This was way back in the mid 1980's, before it was a National Park.
Later - in the 90's - I worked in adult education and I had a student at Warmun.
It's kind of a remote and unusual place to go to from Seattle....
Meg and I visited Seattle ourselves, briefly, in 2014 - picking up a hire car there and heading for the Yukon to visit her Cousins.
PS - thank you for restacking "Waves"
Dave :)
brilliant! nothing in the bush seems very close, so it’s amazing you’ve been there. one of the most amazing experiences of my life, volunteering at what was then called Mirrilingki Spirituality Centre (not sure if it’s still around in some form). I long for another adventure anywhere on that magical land of yours!
Oh, well - close is a relative term, out there. It was about 680km, and I camped out along the road and arrived the next day...
I'm hoping to head back that way myself, some time in the next year or so.
Ah, the ending “the wind carved mountains
of my heart.” ❤️
I’m glad I was on the right track (phew!) to find that “tattered fabric of [your] life”.
This poem takes me straight there to where…
🎶 the western desert lives and breathers… in 45 degrees 🎵🎶. (Midnight Oil, Beds are Burning)
Ah! Supporter Number One!!!
You stitched it all back together, darling, making something wonderful and new….
💕
That one solitary tree standing out there by the long brown road ... The photos are all that and a bag of chips sir
Thank you for the spoiler, friend. Damn, this was an excellent preamble and poem.
I new you must have made it through, or else you never could have written the poem about it.
Isn't it interesting that we don't need the suspense of an uncertain outcome to fuel a heroe's journey.
Are you feeling this too these days David? The only real rest my heart finds is when I can feel myself walking within it ... When my eyes are clear enough to see that I am a part of everything and everything is a part of me...
Thankyou Jed. I was a little uncertain about the outcome at the time, but it was the most beautiful journey.
And yes to that last bit… for sure…
D
That looks like one very young DK!! This looks like a beautiful but desolute part of the country. Not one I would want to stranded in!!
Well yes, friend Cheryl. Even younger than I am now :)
The western desert lands are beyond beautiful. I was beyond fortunate to have work which took me there....
Essential "self"...born from that which is...
Beautiful.
'both driver and driven' - love it
Thankyou! It's a feeling every Poet has had....
Thankyou, Megan. That is so kind!!
Best Wishes from Australia - Dave and Meg :)
Stunning poem and great photos. Very profound. Thank you.