CHAPTER SIX , TOWARDS EQUINOX
As if to remain
Were the price.
Time tips
And we tumble.
Vessels pouring into vessels,
Our sounds hollow,
Certainties measured,
Strangely vague.
All and nothing,
We stand rocking,
Drunk on swaying decks,
Seeking horizons.
Waking, dreams dissolve.
Sleep, and schemes fold inwards.
We name and name all things
Yet the Nameless still remains.
I shall hollow the wood,
Discover the bowl, round, knotted.
The receptive is the valley spirit,
Mother of all things.
It cannot fail, it is a veil,
A mist at dawn, a sigh,
A flight of silent birds heading west.
Leaves spin open, stretch green
Into dewy morning.
The air, still cold, substance
Slow moving.
The solace of hawks,
The solace of sparrows.
Clouds from the south pour light.
Moon-cooled, the blue west:
A line of hills none
Can see beyond.
It is as a veil, barely breathed,
Valley spirit holding, not holding,
Vast, the tip of the tongue,
A taste of spring,
A dream of summer.
For a moment,
Everything seemed perfect,
Before moving on.
simonhlilly 
Did you also create this picture, Simon?
Yes, Ben. I have many of these but only a selection on my iPad at the moment, from where I usually upload to WordPress. I use them as background layers to many of my art works.
I am impressed. I can manage a few words on a good day, but it’s my wife who has all the other artistic ability. For example:
http://bennaga.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/rainbow-flower/
Nice! Both words and image!
Beautiful imagery in your words. I love the concept of hollowing the bowl.
Thanks, Cynthia.
It’s Lao Tzu that points to the usefulness of the bowl being in the bit that’s hollow. I’ve had this post and the one by N Filbert regarding erosion open next to each other. His line: everything that is given in life is also taken away, in the same instant. Your line: For a moment, everything seemed perfect before moving on is just that little bit softer to deal with. We all know this well enough.
I read Nathan’s post a few hours after I had written this piece, but before I posted it. Funny how that happens ( though we both tend to deal with similar obsessions…..)
It happens all the time to everybody. In participation in Friday Fictioneers it’s frequent.
“A taste of spring,
A dream of summer.” You’ve given us both, Simon. Beautiful.
Thank you! How’s your music projects coming along?
Thanks for asking, Simon. I have more composition projects lined up for the summer and I continue to gather audio and video for the Penn’s Woods project. Life is good.
Good to hear…