a glimpse of Beauty
as She passes by
eye meets eye
in brief eternity
then She is gone
slipping among trees
on iced moonlight
imagined and dispersed
on January winds
I am howling
at the falling sky
tangled in chimes
struggling with metaphor
chilled by promises
of spring
melting on the tongue
just a glimpse
through forest light
chiaroscuro of desire
Her face
already starting
to fragment
falling apart
as Her last glance
like a broken parasol
of mirrors
collapses
leaving Her eyes
charcoaled on papyrus
against the snow
promising everything
and nothing at all
In a recent mid-winter apartment purge I uncovered a set of 35 mm slides from some mist-enshrouded past era of my life. These photographic images enchant me, as they must have done many moons ago when I originally captured them on slide film.
Not owning a slide projector I scanned them into digital form and looked at them on my laptop. The images were visual poetry to me and words began to form around each one…
This post is the second of a series in which I will share these uncovered visual treasures paired with writings evoked by each slide.
I am also fascinated by the journey of the process these images have gone through over a long period of time. Originally an unknown photographer created an image using a film camera, manipulating and printing it using chemicals in a darkroom. The image was then purchased, photographed a second time and printed in a book where I found it and transformed it into slide film…a photograph of a photograph of a photograph. Using technology that was barely there when I made the slides, I scan the image, another form of photographic reproduction, adding a fourth layer to the process. Perhaps posting the image on WP could be considered a fifth stratum?
No doubt the images have deteriorated in quality as they have traveled through time but I accept this as an intrinsic characteristic of the process. Rather than treat the aging as a defect I prefer to see it as another face of beauty.
I have no record of the original photographers of these images. If anyone out there recognizes the photographs please let me know and I will immediately add due credit to the artist.
poem by clinock.
art rat cafe 
Treasures indeed and I treasure both the words and pictures as one who oft creates back stories for merely glimpsed faces =)
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thank you kindly Gary for your comment, always wonderful to connect with you…
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You are redefining what a work of art is…..normally eliminating the non essential. You are adding the essential.
In fact each has become essential to the other…….the treasures have been enriched with your perceptive poems.
Somewhat like adding a soundtrack to a movie. Bravo!
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I welcome your always positive, perceptive and generous feedback on my efforts Robert…thank you my friend…
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You know that if anyone is intrigued by such ‘treasure’ as this, it is me! I love the connection…poetry to images…i like that someone’s memories are being honoured after time Awesome stuff, John. Thanks for recently coming over to read…I enjoy your visits and insights.
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As I enjoy yours Kathleen…thank you very much for your thoughts…
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Love this interplay of text/image.
Her face already starting to fragment…is nevertheless…a glimpse of Beauty as She passes by…
Nice how you put that.
Then I look at the image.
Which. reminds me of a folk or fairy tale. So it might be very old. And since they are always new, she is new.
The reality of the image (as I internalize it) is reflected in your poem.
Maybe everybody finds a truth in this process you have undertaken?
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Thank you Steven and I hope that is so, your last line, it is why I do what I do. Your observations are as thought provoking and evocative as ever… I also see the elusive faerie magic here, perhaps this is the inherent nature of Beauty?
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