11.26.2023 – there is the place now,

there is the place now,
where I look back, look ahead
and dream and wonder

This is the view right now from the Bridge Street bridge that crosses a small tributary of the May River, between the Colhoun Street Dock and the Oyster Factory Dock in Bluffton, South Carolina.

We walked over the bridge the other day and we had to stop and stare.

We walked on to the Oyster dock and stood there as long as we could stand those nasty gnats that can be so tiresome that we have known people to decide living in the low country wasn’t worth dealing with the gnats.

On the walk back I stopped to take some pictures with my phone, one of which I sent to my grand daughter and said that we were visiting the Land of Oz.

She did not dispute it.

I look at this image, which I offer here … and I am not sure, what, which world I AM in.

If you are using your desktop you can view a full size image by clicking here …

I was reminded of the poem, Between Worlds, by Carl Sandburg …

And he said to himself
in a sunken morning moon
between two pines,
between lost gold and lingering green

I believe I will count up my worlds
There seem to me to be three
There is a world I came from which is Number One.
There is a world I am in now, which is Number Two
There is a world I go to next, which is Number Three

There was the seed pouch, the place I lay dark in, nursed and shaped in
a warm, red, wet cuddlmg place, if I tugged at a latchstring or
doubled a dimpled fist or twitched a leg or a foot, only the Mother knew

There is the place I am now, where I look back and
look ahead, and dream and wonder
There is the next place –

It was if all three worlds, the one I came from, the one am in now and the one I go to next, are all in the same place.

For an other other world, I offer the view in black and white.

6.29.2023 – read watch the sunset

read watch the sunset
watch the moon rise that’s all
isn’t it enough

I watch old movies.

I read.

I watch the sunset.

I watch the moon rise.”

That’s all?”

“That’s all?

Isn’t it enough?

Serenity is a very elusive quality.

I’ve been trying all my life to find it.

I’m very ordinary.

Conversation between Ray Kinsella and J.D. Salinger in the book Shoeless Joe by by W. P. Kinsella (1983, New York : Ballantine Books).

Never really listened to any music by the group U2.

Maybe I was always confused that there lead singer was not related to Sonny Bono.

Maybe, back in the day of music VIDEO, some U2 video of what I think was a live concert of the band performing.

What I remember is that it was a wide shot of a stage with a crowd with some flaming cauldrens in the background and this feller on stage marching back and forth in a sweat and I would click to the next station.

But one line of one song is etched in memory.

I still don’t know what I’m looking for.

Any one who reads these essays from time should be aware that I am a Christian or someone who as accepted the good news of the gift of Christ so I will say, that in the big picture, I do know what I am looking for and that I have found it.

But that leaves the little picture.

Life here on earth.

So much angst.

So much doubt.

Too much hate.

If someone asked me, and no one askes me anything anymore, what I am I looking for, I am not sure I could do better than to say I am very ordinary and all my life I have been searching for serenity and serenity is a very elusive quality.

I am often at a loss to explain myself.

To make up for that, I will recount old stories I have read in books or scenes from old movies an in effort to add to conversation.

That I remember these old stories and old movies is, more or less, a curse of my memory.

But there you are.

There I am.

I watch old movies.

I read.

I watch the sunset.

I watch the moon rise.

That’s all.

Isn’t it enough?

Serenity is a very elusive quality.

I’ve been trying all my life to find it.

I’m very ordinary.

6.17.2023 – weary sun hath made

weary sun hath made
a golden set gives token
goodly tomorrow.

The weary sun hath made a golden set
And by the bright tract of his fiery car
Gives token of a goodly day to-morrow.

Richard III: Act 5, Scene 4 by Big Bill

Drat that green spot caused by smart phone camera.

Seems that if my smart phone was so smart that green dot wouldn’t show up.

One blogger wrote: Many iPhone users see a green dot on their pictures. Although it is of negligible size yet it looks bad.

This issue is a real concern for photography lovers. They toil a lot to capture a perfect shot or selfie. But, the green dot spoils both their mood and the picture.

SO much for being so smart.

Let us focus on the words and hope for a googly tomorrow.

weary sun hath made
a golden set gives token
goodly tomorrow.

5.12.2023- each one has a place,

each one has a place,
in their heart there is a space
world cannot erase

Based on the lyrics written by Eddie Del Barrio, Maurice White and Verdine White for the song, Fantasy by the group,

Earth,

Wind,

and

Fire.

It was a nice start to the day to listen to this song as I crossed over the water to the island this morning.

Here are the complete lyrics.

Every man has a place, in his heart there’s a space
And the world can’t erase his fantasies
Take a ride in the sky, on our ship, Fantasy
All your dreams will come true, right away

Every man has a place, in his heart there’s a space
And the world can’t erase his fantasies
Take a ride in the sky, on our ship, Fantasy
All your dreams will come true, right away
And we will live together, until the twelfth of never
Our voices will ring forever, as one
Every thought is a dream, rushing by in a stream
Bringing life to our kingdom of doing
Take a ride in the sky, on our ship, Fantasy
All your dreams will come true, miles away
Our voices will ring together until the twelfth of never
We all, will live forever, as one
Come see victory, in the land called, “Fantasy”
Loving life, a new decree
Bring your mind to everlasting liberty
As one
Come to see, victory in a land called, “Fantasy”
Loving life, for you and me, to behold, to your soul is ecstasy
You will find, other kind, that has been in search for you
Many lives has brought you to
Recognize it’s your life, now in review
And as you stay for the play, fantasy, has in store for you
A glowing light will see you through
It’s your day, shining day, all your dreams come true
As you glide, in your stride with the wind, as you fly away
Give a smile, from your lips, and say
I am free, yes I’m free, now I’m on my way
Come to see victory
In a land called, “Fantasy”
Loving life for you and me
To behold, to your soul is ecstasy
You will find other kind
That has been in search of you
Many lives has brought you to
Recognize, it’s your life now in review

5.10.2023 – every great river

every great river
every sea, belongs to none
and belongs to all

Based on the line, Like every great river and every great sea, the moon belongs to none and belongs to all.

From Moon Landing, by EB White, July 26, 1969; in Writings from The New Yorker, 1925–1976.

Mr. White was writing about the Apollo 11 moon landings in 1969,

The picture is from the Calhoun Street Dock on the May River in Bluffton, SC.

Mr. White watched the moon landings, like I did, on television.

I was at the Calhoun Street Dock on the May River in Bluffton, SC, last night.

Mr. White was referring to the moment when the Astronauts planted the US Flag in the surface of moon.

last night, my wife said it was such a nice night, with the temp in the low 80’s, we should go see the sunset at the bluff over the river.

I am thinking of how many people were there to see it.

To see the view.

To share the view.

And come away with their own thoughts.

It belongs to none.

It belongs to all.

At the same time.

Neat trick!

With the tide, the light, the season, it is always a new scene, a different view, at the bluff over the river.

Not saying I could never get tired of it.

But I am willing to take on the research project.