I have to go with what I see with this one, even though it is obviously not what is being portrayed in this painting.
I see her holding a phone And just walking right past him. Dreams and flowers wilt.
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Giggling begins. It starts with one student, but it spreads like a yawn. The laughers lose control, their bodies shaking and the sound taking on the edge of mania. Some put their heads down on their arms, shoulders pulsing even as they muffle the sound.
I remember teenage emotions. The laughter, the heartache, the love, the tears. How much emotional intensity is due to newness, the personal inexperience with life, with feelings?
Experience is a wonderful teacher, but it also wears down the extremes. Though I’m glad I no longer feel the intensity of hurt that came with the disappointments and tragedies of youth, experience also takes away some of that perfect joy.
I still feel the edges of it sometimes. The laughter will linger, approaching that barrier, but there is too much control now. Is it about learning to let go, or remembering how to?
Teaching young people does keep you young, partly because it reminds you of what being young is like. But while most experiences build our capacities, observing youth reminds you of how much is taken away by the years.
Last weekend we got about 4 inches of rain overnight. When I went on a hike, and saw what’s in this video, I thought “Funny how the water followed the path.”
My mind immediately alerted me to a potential fallacy. A “which came first” idea presented itself. Isn’t it more likely that water made this path? Rain overflow creates little streams, especially in the spring. Some are freshets, have a relatively deep bed, and can run for months if its a wet season. Not great for a path.
But a lot of time there are washes for when a big storm overflows the system of ponds and streams and rivulets, and more water runs off. As water always does, it tends to gather and find a way to flow down. I’m thinking these are the path makers: yes they get wet, but only briefly, and dry fairly quickly, which means we can walk on them most of the time.
Humans are smart, and you can also say we’re either thrifty or a bit lazy. It is far easier to follow a path given to us by nature than to have to hack a new path through its bushes, trees and tangles.
So my new thought is: “Look how we follow that path of water.”
Haven’t written in a bit, but I’m back with another #tankstuesday
This one is an actual tanka, 5-7-5-7-7 syllabic form.
I am wandering Even though I know this trail. The green buds are new. Dressing the familiar in Bright and renewing beauty.
Hope you like it! Join in here.
#Tankatuesday is quite a challenge this week. To celebrate Colleen M. Chesebro’s birthday, we are asked to write a poem with 65 syllables. We also get to name our poem type, and I’m calling mine a “Jinx” because it has 13 lines. Each line has five syllables, totaling 65. Believe me, that math was not easy for me.
Jinx Falling up the stairs. Step on the stair that Is not there. Find your Balance or fall down. Feel the flailing fear. Black cats, cracked mirrors. Walk under ladders. No thirteenth floor, no Button for thirteen in elevators We walk away from Our superstitions And we gain true strength.
Here is the link to the challenge!
This famous purple Bougainvillea from the ancient city of Mdina fulfills the “pastorals and pastels” quality of this weeks challenge.
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Petals curl backwards
Or forwards. Does it matter
As flowers unfurl?
Each church has their own band. Here you can see an actual tradition where the bearers of the Jesus statue briefly run.
It was really interesting, and I felt a little strange filming it. But I did put 5 euro in the collection box so I think they were ok with it.
The challenge this week is to write a Shadorma, which has a syllable count of 3-5-3-3-7-5. Along with this, the challenge includes random words that must be used in the text.
A smile Sticks onto my lips As the song of new spring Is made up of birds singing The flutter of wings
You can join the challenge here.
And yes I’m saying smile has two syllables. I think it could be argued that it’s one, but I’m saying SMY – UL
I wrote this in my journal a while back. The idea I’m going for is holding on to the valuable lessons and patterns I have learned, and not just using them for today, but making sure I keep focused on them in the future. This creates a deep pattern in my actions, and that makes it easier for me to accomplish my goals.
Mark Bozeman 