You are so right about the primal call of the ocean. It's in every cell of our bodies, intrinsic to the human condition. How much more a celebration of life it would have been to have chosen 'for water you are, and to water you will return.' Choosing 'dust' as the metaphor, to my mind, says far more about death and the obliteration of self than it does about life.
David, this is like a little tour of the amazing everyday beauty of God's creation that can largely go unseen as the world continually focuses on wars in these dark times. I listened to you read as I read the words and viewed the pictures and I thought it all worked marvellously together.
Oh Martin. Thankyou my friend. This was written this morning with the waves still breaking on the beach outside, and the natural world surrounding us. Like you, I mourn for the terrible things happening elsewhere, but I need to celebrate the wonderful beauty of nature too....
Isn't it just, Meg! How beautiful it is. We stand in awe on the shore remembering where we come from. How tuned we are to the sea from where we once had gills to breathe. We are cells and bones and flesh, pore and lungs with a consciousness now- with possibilities of mystery inspired by artists and writers and by place. And at the Soltice we can honour how nature and the axis are drawn together to give us life.
It overall such a beautiful poem, David. But I keep coming back to God. "as a God might by the pure love of life; by all the joy of living." This is exquisite. This is deep and profound understanding.
I really appreciate your understanding of life and also the appreciation of it. What a thing joy is! How marvelous that we have this Earth, these cliffs, this ocean, this sand, you, me, us.
This is where we came from. Our humanity, our hopes, our dreams. A respite on the darker days. It lightens the spirit, reminds us of possibilities. Thanks Meg and Dave.
Thankyou Richard! We both share that feeling. To honour the Winter Solstice here in NZ we swam in that bay late this afternoon …. though the ocean temperature was very, very cold we enjoyed splashing around. Stayed too long and took Dave 3hrs to warm up properly!!
I’m glad we all evolved to crawl out of the ocean and all breathe. It’s exquisite really, isn’t it?!
A fabulous poem, great photos that make me want to be there and a wonderful painting too. I’ve always said I only do photography because I can’t paint! I like that you make your art together, as a reader/viewer I can feel the love. Sorry I’m so far behind, D
Water water water water water. In Star Trek NG, they encounter as species that refers to humans as "ugly bags of mostly water." Your lovely watery poem has set something to perking on my back burner. I feel another water poem coming. And really, you should always post footage of your amazing waves. So amazing.
You are so right about the primal call of the ocean. It's in every cell of our bodies, intrinsic to the human condition. How much more a celebration of life it would have been to have chosen 'for water you are, and to water you will return.' Choosing 'dust' as the metaphor, to my mind, says far more about death and the obliteration of self than it does about life.
Hi dear Jane.
Oh yes. I do so agree!!
Best Wishes - Dave :)
xx
David, this is like a little tour of the amazing everyday beauty of God's creation that can largely go unseen as the world continually focuses on wars in these dark times. I listened to you read as I read the words and viewed the pictures and I thought it all worked marvellously together.
Oh Martin. Thankyou my friend. This was written this morning with the waves still breaking on the beach outside, and the natural world surrounding us. Like you, I mourn for the terrible things happening elsewhere, but I need to celebrate the wonderful beauty of nature too....
Best Wishes - Dave
I'm just out of bed and having some tea to start the day, Dave. I'll do a restack in a short while.
As dreadful as it may be sometimes, its the opposites that make our fragile world so precious. They exist always side by side.
Isn't it just, Meg! How beautiful it is. We stand in awe on the shore remembering where we come from. How tuned we are to the sea from where we once had gills to breathe. We are cells and bones and flesh, pore and lungs with a consciousness now- with possibilities of mystery inspired by artists and writers and by place. And at the Soltice we can honour how nature and the axis are drawn together to give us life.
Your pictures just want to pull me into the phone and out the other side into your world, David
I think you just have to say the magic word, Jed.
Ummm.... what was it now.....
Qantas??
D :)
It overall such a beautiful poem, David. But I keep coming back to God. "as a God might by the pure love of life; by all the joy of living." This is exquisite. This is deep and profound understanding.
I really appreciate your understanding of life and also the appreciation of it. What a thing joy is! How marvelous that we have this Earth, these cliffs, this ocean, this sand, you, me, us.
Dear Nazish! Thankyou!
It seems an overused word, but I mean it truly. Sending salt water oceanic friendship waves to you, virtually, through this strange electronic space…
Best Wishes - Dave :)
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Words, photos, and Meg’s art!! Is that you reading?
Hey there Kiki.
Thankyou.....
Yes, that is me, and sea sighing behind me.
D
I love it!! Read all of them, bitte!
This is where we came from. Our humanity, our hopes, our dreams. A respite on the darker days. It lightens the spirit, reminds us of possibilities. Thanks Meg and Dave.
Thankyou Richard! We both share that feeling. To honour the Winter Solstice here in NZ we swam in that bay late this afternoon …. though the ocean temperature was very, very cold we enjoyed splashing around. Stayed too long and took Dave 3hrs to warm up properly!!
I’m glad we all evolved to crawl out of the ocean and all breathe. It’s exquisite really, isn’t it?!
What a beautiful piece - I felt guided throughout.
“The cliffs
are gardens;
stone graced with
life where land ends
ocean begins, and one
world becomes another.”
Hi friend Allegra.
Thankyou! And welcome to my Substack Poetry Shack.
I am delighted that you enjoyed this.
Very Best Wishes - Dave :)
Ride the ebb tide
nets pull waves
A wash with wind
Endless rise
Sun settles down
Sand sifts,
Footprints sink in sand
Until tomorrow.
Whangaumu endless stream consciousness
Ah! Friend Richard...
That is beautiful!
Best Wishes - Dave :)
What is whangaumu?
Oh!
Not “what?” but “”where?”
Whangaumu Bay. North Island of New Zealand :)
A fabulous poem, great photos that make me want to be there and a wonderful painting too. I’ve always said I only do photography because I can’t paint! I like that you make your art together, as a reader/viewer I can feel the love. Sorry I’m so far behind, D
Oh Dave. Thankyou! You say of yourself that " I only do photography because I can’t paint.."
But your photography is so marvellous!!!
Best Wishes - Dave :)
Thank you Dave, I honestly wasn’t fishing for that compliment but I’ll certainly take it, all the best, D
Well - I mean it. I look forward to your photos each week. Ever been to Oz? You would love some of the landscapes here...
Solstice? Beginning of winter for you?
Well… depending how you mark it, the Solstice is the middle of Winter.
Ie the shortest day of the year (here in the Southern Hemisphere)
I’m normally in Australia- but the Solstice is the same.
Best Wishes - Dave :)
Yes, every cell, just like our Mother Earth. Beautiful words and images David. Thank you for sharing this with me.
Thank you Alegria.
Best Wishes - Dave :)
Poetry as prayer
Thankyou dear Geraldine...
And thanks for the restack, too!
Best Wishes - Dave :)
Water water water water water. In Star Trek NG, they encounter as species that refers to humans as "ugly bags of mostly water." Your lovely watery poem has set something to perking on my back burner. I feel another water poem coming. And really, you should always post footage of your amazing waves. So amazing.
Ha!!! Dear Rebecca. When your Wordy Waters break, the world will be awash with your Poetic Procreations....
I can't wait!
Best Wishes - Dave :)
"The light licks the lollies of the rocks" - a beautiful line. Thanks for sound of the sea in words & the sea itself
Hi Karen. Thankyou! We included the little video clip because the sea was speaking for itself....
If you listen to my audio, reading the piece, you can also hear the waves in the background...
Best Wishes - Dave :)
Ah so very beautiful. Thank you for this writing! And the images are stunning.
Thankyou, Susan. This one was pure pleasure to write, and to photograph...
Best Wishes - Dave :)