Leaves On A Log — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Went looking for faith on the forest floor,
and it showed up everywhere.
In the sun, and the water,
and the falling leaves,
the falling leaves of time.
Leaves On A Log — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Went looking for faith on the forest floor,
and it showed up everywhere.
In the sun, and the water,
and the falling leaves,
the falling leaves of time.
Morning Rainbow In The Desert (Tucson, Arizona, September 29, 2016) — Image by kenne
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
General Store In Rural Sonora, Mexico (January28, 2016) — Images by kenne
— Jostein Gaarder
“Universal Flight” — Computer art by kenne
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
“Sisters” Joy and Jody (June 2, 2003) — Image by kenne
― Toni Morrison
Old Habits — Image by kenne
— Bertrand Russell
— from Landscape With Two Graves and an Assyrian Dog by Federico García Lorca
La Milagrosa Canyon (February 28, 2014) — Images by kenne [Click on any of the images to see slideshow.]
“Aren’t the clouds beautiful? They look like big balls of cotton…
I could just lie here all day, and watch them drift by…
If you use your imagination, you can see lots of things in the cloud formations…
What do you think you see, Linus?”
“Well, those clouds up there look like the map of the British Honduras on the Caribbean…
That cloud up there looks a little like the profile of Thomas Eakins, the famous painter and sculptor…
And that group of clouds over there gives me the impression of the stoning of Stephen…
I can see the apostle Paul standing there to one side…”
“Uh huh… That’s very good…
What do you see in the clouds, Charlie Brown?”
“Well, I was going to say I saw a ducky and a horsie,
but I changed my mind!”
― Charles M. Schulz, The Complete Peanuts, Vol. 5: 1959-1960
“Hi, Little Friend” — Image by kenne
“The Ultimate Sacrifice” — Image by kenne
It is common when leading nature walks in Sabino Canyon to talk about the signature cactus of the Sonoran desert, the saguaro. One of the common bits of information is to point out how the young saguaros are near trees that help provide protection to this very slow-growing Sonoran desert plant. These trees can be mesquite, palo verde or ironwood trees, and are referred to as “nurse trees.” The faster-growing nurse tree provides shade and shelter from the harsh desert elements, and as the saguaro grows, becoming more acclimated to the desert sun, the nurse tree may die, leaving the saguaro alone. As the saguaro grows larger it may compete for resources with its nurse tree, especially where several saguaros are receiving protection from the same tree, which may hasten its death. Even so, the faster-growing tree will not outlive the typical life of a saguaro cactus.
kenne
Desert Spring Computer Painting by kenne
When Wolfgang and I first met by the pool two years ago, we would talk about philosophy and share other common interest topics. Often, conversations would begin on whatever book he was reading by the pool.
Two years ago, Wolfgang spent about three weeks here in southern Arizona, enjoying the hot summer sun. It was not his first time visiting Tom in Tucson, and he indicated he would be visiting again next year. But, that didn’t happen – I didn’t ask why, distracted by the pleasure of seeing him again.
Since Joy and I had just returned from vacation, I assumed he had just arrived. However, he had arrived while we were gone, during which time he and Tom did a road-trip to northern Arizona and southern Utah, and was now in his last week here in the states.
Wolfgang was anxious to share the time they spent in the Navajo Nation territory taking in some of its natural beauty. However, his most memorable moment was that of a conversation he had with a Navajo woman, whom he greeted in Navajo. Although his Navajo vocabulary is limited, she seemed to be impressed. Upon departing, she told him that when he comes back he will be able to speak in Navajo.
“No I won’t,” Wolfgang said.
“That’s the right answer,” she replied.
Now Wolfgang has a kindred spirit in the Navajo Nation.
As in the past, I was curious as to what Wolfgang’s poolside reading was. As the title was in German, I only know the author’s name; Peter Sloterdijk. I now plan on reading some of Sloterdijk’s work, especially learning more about his theory of the human as a practicing, training being, which may give me additional insight on why “ becoming is superior to being,” and the process of becoming (improving) as individuals and groups can result in a more convivial society.
Related to this thought, I shared a poem I first heard in the late ‘50s from my high school English teacher:
“Good, better, best,
Never let it rest,
Till your good is better,
And your better is best.”
This little poem has been my life’s anthem.
(Until recently, the author of the poem was unknown, but a recent Google search gives credit to professional basketball player, Tim Duncan. Look at what media exposure can do for you!)
We also talked about the concept and philosophy of “feathering,” which I will post on at a later time.
Keep on feathering, my friend.
kenne
Wolfgang P. Theiss — Images by kenne
. . . first stanza from William Wordsworth’s, “The Thorn”
“If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it;
blame yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches;
for the Creator, there is no poverty.”
—Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet
On this Saturday morning, as many before,
I spend time reading poetry and listening to music —
a time to refuel my outward being
with my inter soul.
In doing so I remind myself;
I write, therefore I am a writer;
I photograph, therefore I am a photographer –
it’s just that simple, no more.
“Therefore, dear Sir, love your solitude and try to sing out with the pain it causes you. For those who are near you are far away… and this shows that the space around you is beginning to grow vast…. be happy about your growth, in which of course you can’t take anyone with you, and be gentle with those who stay behind; be confident and calm in front of them and don’t torment them with your doubts and don’t frighten them with your faith or joy, which they wouldn’t be able to comprehend. Seek out some simple and true feeling of what you have in common with them, which doesn’t necessarily have to alter when you yourself change again and again; when you see them, love life in a form that is not your own and be indulgent toward those who are growing old, who are afraid of the aloneness that you trust…. and don’t expect any understanding; but believe in a love that is being stored up for you like an inheritance, and have faith that in this love there is a strength and a blessing so large that you can travel as far as you wish without having to step outside it.” –Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet