01 December 2014

Right Now



The mountains are gone this morning, closeted by gray clouds. Everywhere is wet from last night's rain and the start of more today. Night winds blew the tablecloth on the balcony into the arms of a chair as if purposely placed there. I've kept it on late this year with its golden background and whispy gray-green olive leaves in collaboration with the warm, sunny weather of these last three months, autumn stretched into December. 

The vines are bare, pared back after the recent harvest. Pruned olive branches are piled in the groves of our neighbors. Wind blows bits of fog from the hills' crevices and smoke, like a thicker, deliberately-placed fog, dots the fields as discarded branches burn despite the misty rain. The scent is of earth and rain. 

Sun, behind cloud layers, looks more like moon. Andrea Bocelli, on my playlist, fills the room with his glorious voice. As sky lightens and ground fog creeps back, the mountains are suspended in air, blue ghost mountains. There is only this moment of full presence, of clarity and connection.


For Marian's Open Link Monday at Imaginary Garden with Real Toads who talked about the importance of our attention as poets and writing what we experience and who asked us to write about what's going on in our little corner of the world.

20 comments:

  1. such an enchanting beauty..........of nature

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  2. Wonderfully observational and has a lovely, light touch - I can almost feel the gentle breeze.

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    1. I didn't know what to write but Marain's prompt let me just report what was happening around me.

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  3. So much diversity and interesting snippets. All would have been missed if not for the talented eye of a poet. Wonderful write Mary!

    Hank

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    1. Thanks Hank, I love that moment when we go from observer/ reporters to being part of it.

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  4. The wonderful things we see when we take time to wait out the fog...

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    1. Really. Is there a lesson? Look at what emerged.

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  5. i love this, Mary. gosh, i want to visit you! :)
    the details are wonderful, so tangible. i especially like the tablecloth on the chair, as if placed there on purpose. lovely!!

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    1. We have a guest room, Marian, and it's a lovely little corner of the world! Thanks for the prompt that got me connected.

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  6. You make what might at first feel a little damp and grey so beautiful in your attention to detail and your vivid depiction. I am on a train so can't write too clearly but I have seen the scene clearly. Thanks. I just bought some first pressed oil-- I cannot wait to try it. Thanks, Mary. K

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    1. The first pressed is the best, enjoy. I use olive oil for everything now and find it yummy as well as healthy.

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  7. ah you drew me right into the scene and made me see and feel it...

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    1. It was a lovely scene. I'm glad I could share it with you, Claudia.

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  8. Oh, yes, what Claudia said...I felt I was there, where everywhere was wet!
    K

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  9. the mountains are suspended in air, blue ghost mountains..' I love that image, Mary. This piece really gives a sense of being there, and I think there often is just something about fog that sets a mood of other-wordly peace. You reproduce that unerringly, along with all the vivid details as clear as a painting. I also want to thank you for the very kind words you left at my blog last month and apologize for not coming by to do so sooner. I appreciate your support and caring, and wish you a wonderful December.

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    1. Hedge, If you found my words supportive, I'm glad. It was my attempt to give back to you just a little from the extraordinary inspiration I receive from reading your poetry. Often I don't understand it until I read it through many times but it challenges me to think deeper, read more broadly and use more of the poets' tools to enrich my writing. Thank you for that.

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  10. What a beautiful way to have an autumn.. here it's all dark and wet...

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