Friday, June 24, 2011

Working on a poem and maybe a painting: Mahalia's Voice / Buddha's Hands / Ayin

















In the past few days, I came across this painting by Augustus Tack. I haven't been drawing or painting at all and am reminded of what is missing in my life. I remember seeing this painting years ago (maybe in in a book when I was back in college in the the 1980s, maybe when I was in Washington, D.C. in 1982) and wishing I had painted it.

For the last few months, I've been working on a poem about my childhood experience of being astonished by hearingMahalia Jackson sing on the television sometime between 1954 and 1957, and an image that came to me recently of the emptiness held in the Buddha's hands as he sits in meditation, as well as the concept of Ayin, the "experience of nothingness" (Rabbi Tirzah Firestone). I haven't written anything down, but the images and experiences continue to speak to me.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

A Face Among The Crowd



Thanks to Taradharma for the introduction to the songs of Jackie Greene.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Remembering my father

















This was taken up at Mt. Baker Ski Area, about 50 miles east of Bellingham. The back of the photo was dated November 1998, but my guess is that this is in September or early October of that year.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

With gratitude to a friend

















An old friend emailed this image and gave me permission to post it. The story is that, on her birthday in May, she looked outside and saw a Ground Squirrel who lives in her backyard looking at her intently. She was delighted and also puzzled because the Ground Squirrel seemed to be trying to communicate something.

But what?

As she observed the Ground Squirrel, she was amazed to see a "fledgling" appear beside its mother!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Watching the River Flow



"What's the matter with me
I don't have much to say ...

...Oh this ol' river keeps on rollin', though
No matter what gets in the way and which way the wind does blow
And as long as it does I'll just sit here
And watch the river flow ...

(lyrics by Bob Dylan, from "Watching the River Flow," released June 3, 1971)

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Your Love is Liftin Me



That's my nephew singing! (the young man soloist on the left)

Monday, June 6, 2011

The Sea of Stories



Thanks to Rachel for this link!

That made me think of this. Haroun and The Sea of Stories was the last book my mother gave to me. That was on my 45th birthday. She also subscribed to Parabola magazine for me many years ago. Diane Wolkstein is a contributor to Parabola, the only magazine I still subscribe to. I love stories.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Everything under the sun is new






















Even late spring reruns. Just came home from the 7:00 breakfast with friends. Missed it for a little while because I needed the extra sleep. The long way home is approximately an hour. I left my car back there and am going to take the short way back to my car.

I am picturing all of us in the sunlight today!