In between the rain, here's where I go to sit, beside the pink valerian and the last golden wallflowers. The notebook is eager to get on, turns its own pages ahead of me in the snappy wind. I clip them down, wrap up warm, tuck in.
A blackbird picks through the loose gravel beside my feet, though I brought no picnic. That dog who always seems to have a smile on his face strolls by, sniffs and sniffs again while his owner waits near the road. The jogger who yells at himself to COME ON huffs past, sweat mapping his grey shirt. The fisherman who rows out from his net strewn gaff, who drags his yellow boat across an acre of shifting stones, who hauls it into the silver surf, slips free of land towards the pier.
Back to work. It's hard to sit still after the celebrations. After millions of us turned as one, gazed towards Elizabeth and Venus, pointed the camera, shielded our eyes from the sun, it seems like we fell thoughtful.
***
Another blackbird I wrote about is soon to appear in Fiona Dempster's beautiful calligraphy at an exhibition across in Portland, Oregon. Here's the link to Fiona's blog post which tells you all about it. Thanks to Fiona for submitting a piece we both enjoyed working on.
6 comments:
good evening Annie, I so loved the second paragraph of this post - I must have read it three times in a row - how you put down the seemingly most mundane of your life is just so rich!! I have to say, I busted a gut when I read the jogger line! it's the kind of thing that we all want to yell when we are working out, but probably don't, just internally! xo
Hi Jeane. Great to hear you at the shed show last night!! Thanks for your kind words. That sun terrace where I write a lot seems to have its own little flow of life different to the promenade. Guess most of life is pretty ordinary. Really feel it after all the celebrations. Me too every time that jogger goes past. I never hear him coming until he yells and then get to jump out of my skin.Ax
Great post! I didn't know you could yell yourself forward when running...I'm too polite but I think I'll change!
Visited Fiona's blog and loved "Blackbird"...A life of its own.
Hi Mary Ann. Thank you. Pleased you liked Blackbird. Well, let me know how it goes with the running while yelling project!! I usually mutter to myself when running about who's stupid idea it was. Maybe I'll try a little yell next time and see if it helps me get home faster?!!
It's such a pretty spot, no wonder you enjoy sitting there. The image of the yellow boat slipping free of land is very clear in my mind.
Hi Robyn. It's one of the best things about living here! I really miss it when the weather keeps me from sitting there. How many times have I watched that yellow boat break free.....? I stop and watch it nearly every time.
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