Looking backward ... I cannot see the ancients of days. Looking forward ... I cannot see ages yet to come. Only heaven and earth have remained, And will remain forever ... I am alone, I grieve, I drop tears into the dust ~Chen Tzu-ang
(cited: Trans: Anonymous, The Jade Flute Chinese Poems in Prose. The Project Gutenberg
White mulberry cloth Sleeves parted from one another: How difficult I find it, yet, Such is the tumult of my thoughts, I forgave his leaving. ~ Anonymous (cited: Waka Poetry
Photograph submitted in response to The Life of B’s monthly square challenge … the absolute rule – Your main photograph must be square in shape!
"...I told Mrs. Linden that I thought I was ready to retire, as I knew I should have an exciting and unusual day on the morrow.
'Very well,' she replied in her sweet way. She escorted me to a small elevator, which, by the way, was to be found in every home of the 2905 type. This I thought was a good idea too, as many women were actually tired out in my day, by going up and down stairs.
I remarked to Mrs. Linden the convenience of it. She replied that the people used elevators more than stairs, and that they, too, were put in during the construction of the house. 'Did you not have elevators in your day, Miss Tillman?'
'Certainly.' I answered, "'In public buildings, but they were not common in private houses.'
'Queer,' she replied, 'that they did not think of putting them into use in all homes.'..."
~ Bessie Story Rogers, As it may be A Story of the Future, 1905 (excerpt from: A Celebration of Women Writers)
Photograph submitted in response to The Life of B’s monthly square challenge … the absolute rule – Your main photograph must be square in shape!
Because of this, sad, sad has the whole day been to me.
You must go forth and journey, far, very far.
The time has come when you, the maiden, must go.
The light boat ascends the great river.
Your particular bitterness is to have none from whom you may claim support.
I have cherished you. I have pondered over you. I have been increasingly gentle and tender to you.
A child taken from those who have cared for it—
On both sides separation brings the tears which will not cease.
Facing this, the very centre of the bowels is knotted.
It is your duty, you must go. It is scarcely possible to delay farther. ... ~Wei Ying-Wu
(cited: Trans: F Ayscough & A Lowell, Fir-Flower Tablets
Photograph submitted in response to The Life of B’s monthly square challenge … the absolute rule – Your main photograph must be square in shape!
for the moment
straight above my pillow…
billowing clouds ~Issa (cited: haikuguy.com)
skyscape photograph submitted in response to The Life of B’s monthly square challenge … the absolute rule – Your main photograph must be square in shape!
When I look up at
The wide-stretched plain of heaven,
Is the moon the same
That rose on Mount Mikasa
In the land of Kasuga? ~ Abe no Nakamaro (cited: http://jti.lib.virginia.edu)
skyscape photograph submitted in response to The Life of B’s monthly square challenge … the absolute rule – Your main photograph must be square in shape!
red pedal tractor…
sun-lit hair…freckled-face smile
fading breath of time
In remembrance of Christopher Ernest Broyles, December 10, 1954 ~ January 27, 2014
Snow has fallen
And you cannot have
Even the unusual sight of men
Along the precipitous path of the Peak of Yoshino. ~The Sarashina Diary (Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan)
Once upon a time A tiny striped caterpillar Burst from the egg Which had been home For so long. "Hello world," he said. "It sure is bright out here in the sun." (excerpt from Trina Paulus, Hope for the Flowers)
Fun striped and checked findings for Leya’s lens-artists photo challenge!
This week, Patti gives us the opportunity to focus on emotions…to share portraits or street photography that captures people’s feelings, such as happiness, anger, sadness, curiosity, or fear.
Okay…this weeks lens-artist challenge, emotions, opens the door to one of my secret struggles…it is one of many that remain in a mud puddle of confusion.
I am not sure if I understand the difference between a feeling and an emotion.
So far this ongoing search for clarity has me understand an awareness of a feeling, like sadness, arises from my awareness of … tears/heart pain. I am able to acknowledge “anger” from a awareness of variations of speech and thoughts. Fear…the gut punch feeling in my stomach. I have experienced a lot of gut punch feelings since the latest events in Washington D.C.
I continue to ask myself, what is an emotion? I’ve looked at the word, emotion, and came to an awareness of “motion.” So, I’ve asked myself is emotion a feeling that motivates me to action? Today, at this moment in time, I’m going to go with yes…well…a tentative yes because within the word heroin is hero. There clearly is a mismatch there.
I do know for certain that to be driven by the emotional system often times is action that is separated from thinking. It can be action that is blocked from an awareness of moral shame, both internal shame or external shame. Now, I find myself questioning is shame a feeling, an emotion, or is it a mental formation that arises after a period of reflection?
Then I wonder…do feelings of anxiety (is anxiety a feeling or an emotion?) fog up a clear reflection of self with protective mechanisms of denial, rationalization, displacement, projection, and/or sublimation
Now…I ask myself are these defense mechanisms emotions…driven by feelings of anxiety, uncertainty, confusion.
I am certain that most of our communication with others is drawn from nonverbal communication. That is, the feelings/emotions that we interpret by another’s body language. Problems arise from this channel of communication when these interpretations are not clarified by the other.
I also believe that feelings are contagious; that is, a smile awakens a smile, a tear awakens a tear and fear awakens fear and anger awakens anger. I find that I just half smiled at this moment with an internal notation – we are impacted by a contagious virus as well as infectious feelings/emotions.
How are you feeling right now? I’m feeling a bit confused.
Czech photographer, Josef Sudek (1896-1976), known as the ‘Poet of Prague’, was drawn to desolate landscapes, simple, solitary objects and the quiet, unpopulated street scenes of Prague, a city to which he dedicated his whole life. He was the first photographer to be honoured by the Republic with the title of ‘Artist of Merit’ and in his 70th year, his life’s work was recognised by the ‘Order of Labour’. (cited: Huxley-Parlour Gallery)
Travel with Intent’s Six Word Saturday
a meditative journey 
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