Clear sunlight on falling snow: fire and ice.
Bareboned trees stark to the horizon
Cold marshes, haven to ducks and geese.
A Falcon sits motionless on the post.
Deng Ming-Dao
He then writes that wherever we are, the constant change of life and the cycle of the seasons in upon us. We notice the ongoing rhythms of life.
Trees that spring to life after rain, or a change of season, ducks that know the time to breed.
All tings change, while all things move constantly.
The world he says is like one gigantic turning wheel.
I was nearly going to title this “Ready for another year’s journey around the Sun”.
But, then a friend sent me the following, I hope you find humours, gif
and given the harrowing journey we have taken with the virus and the attempts to control it, the sad growth of staggering numbers in other countries plus the local lockdowns to limit it in our various states and now add to that the tumultuous events of insurrection in the Washington DC, the 7 day trial has not been all that inspiring.
As it happens, EE has a T-shirt with the words, “Please Unsubscribe Me from Your Issues” She wore it a time of uncertainty and upheaval, where group ‘membership’ defined people. And that time passed.
Chronicles of a Blogaholic has a most passionate post on the attempt to start the Second Civil War in the US, it’s a wide ranging thought provoking piece. Coup d’état
When I was a mere broth of a photographer one of my mentors was ‘hot’ on Chiaroscuro— or light and dark.
Not just for the effect, but also as the method of carrying the story.
Cycle through more years than I care to write about, and the challenge of working in this fine light with this wonderful bird against that backdrop gave me some great memories.
One of the benefits of such light, apart from the challenge of exposure is the beautiful way the subject stands from the chaos behind.
Stand boldly young Falcon
Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER - --doesn't mean I'm LOST 
Masterful use of the wonderfully nuanced in this excellent image of the Falcon, David!
From my view, yes the first few days haven’t been great, and certainly the pressures on those of us who run businesses that rely on crowds have ramped up rather than down, no one wants to underwrite any event in the foreseeable future but, I am an eternal optimist and life will improve! So I am in for the ride!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi David,
I think we all wish we had a magic wand and quick wave and we could all sail on. I saw the gutted shopkeepers and motel owners in Moama on the telly. One day they are full and buzzing, next, its a moonscape. Freshfruit stocks that will be dumped-no customers, motels that can’t keep visitors.
I think the states should be a bit more creative in what a ‘border’ is.
For others like staged events, its like a vacuum cleaner has wrecked havoc.
Hope that thing improve for you soon.
LikeLike
Thanks for your kind words and reference to my Coup d’état post. Appreciate the feedback.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Blogaholic, all good. Sometimes a clear head overviewing the action helps define the moment for those of us so far away
LikeLike
A beautiful image David. After the week just past, we need the calm and beauty of the natural world more than ever. Thanks for the link to the post too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Eleanor, I wrote this more stream of conciousness (Even more than usual), so felt it disjointed, but it does add just a strip of sanity to moments, we wish we all could ignore, (at our own peril).
The writings of Ming, and of Lao Tzu might lack some practical application, but they are more realistic than sugar coating everything.
Best wishes fof 2021
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the witty saying David and of course the beautiful way you captured the light in the Brown Falcon subject. We certainly are living in the most restless of times, with changes by the hour for many. Remembering to take one’s mask with one is a new addition, and the uncertainty of where the next new virus hot spot is going to raise its head. Every day has its added stress for workers in the front line, such as my wife. Praying you are both keeping well and safe my friend. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Ashley, it seems even more complex now, different states, different rules, different applications.
I do feel for those who daily face this monster in their work. I get disappointed with the leadership that seems to want to deal with this all at arms length with platitudes and never really gets down to the front line.
Sadly we are always just one test away from the next outbreak.
Thanks for the kind comments and may all be well with you and yours
LikeLiked by 1 person
The four verses from Deng Ming-Dao sound like a beautiful haiku.
As often, I am reading this post rather late, but this has it’s good side: I am not worried anymore, or at least not as much as I would if I were reading your words a week ago. All things must pass and it’s great if some of them pass a bit faster.
I am fascinated by chiaroscuro every time I manage to position myself so that I see my model against a dark background. Naturally, your young Falcon is a wonderful illustration to the Deng Ming-Dao’s poetry.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Adam, Deng Ming Dao has a 365 Tao Meditations, some read like Haiku, others drift out beyond my understanding, which is good.
There is off course some benefit in reading the words well after publishing. Perspective might be one.
Much of your work always gives me goosebumps when I see the impressive use of the light on the subject, and how that makes the backdrop secondary. A true theatre.
LikeLike