If I spend my daysShowing you all my colors
Will you love me then?
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39 comments:
Awww. You have a romantic side, I see!
The art of combining photos and poetry is can have beautiful results.
Hi Rick, yes, I do indeed, and I find it is quite amusing at times.
I agree about photo/poems, I love combining them, there is so much symbolism in photos, and you can exaggerate that with the poem, play on that. And it helps to love to do both of those arts, which I do.
The truthfulness of this question lies in those who forever seek and thus find; those who spread their wings and fly infinitely higher still even when dashed again and again. There is infinite beauty there; there is also a sense of containment. Will others understand? But fly continuously, ever higher, though the peacock does not do so. The eagle captures the heart because of its soaring flight and extraordinary vision, the peacock simply for its bountiful beauty more often than not on display. Both have their place.
Cat - Your words and photo are most beautiful. Thank you.
Thank you Judith, for the compliment and for your insightful commentary, I agree entirely, and I think we certainly do carry both peacock and eagle within, (probably as well as turkey and hummingbird amongst others). Birds make wonderful metaphors don't they?
Wasn't it Confucius who said "everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it"?
I love Haikus!
Did a Haiku challenge on my blog way back, but found no takers.
I also like the photo/missive with pictures that enhance the experience....
Communicating
image making tale alive
reading rich pleasure
This haiku reminds me of a poem written by one of my dearest friends, Naomi Shihab Nye. (Cat, I think you'll like her work.) She writes that when you have not seen a friend for a while don't start singing all your songs.
The songs for me somehow connect to the colors you wrote of. Why waste time trying to tell others? Others will not see all that we are or yet will be. (The peacock seems to understand this at this particular moment, at least.) Isn't it just so much better to be?
Minister, nice one! I have a few more image/haikus on the blog. Just click 'haiku' in the label column on the right side of my page. It's long been one of my favorite forms, and I have several longish haiku cycles, which I realize is the antitheses of what a haiku is 'supposed' to be, but sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do!
Judith, That's right, and I think that's the lesson the peacock teaches. I'll check out your friends work.
You really nail the essence in this one.
I think the answer is yes. But no.
They are two different kinds of love.
Jason - Your dichotomous answer of both yes and no was precisely my reaction, though with a strong initial no. No was my gut reaction until a little further thought. The yes came through a kind of acceptance, perhaps through the sheer abundance of colors (gifts or songs.)
What do you identify as loves?
Cat - The peacock does not seem to me to always get this lesson. How often do we see its full regalia, as if this is its raison d'etre? Perhaps it is. I have never seen the peacock take flight.
Naomi has received many awards and she is a most loving person. She is also a novelist and musician. She has many colors.
Jason, that is the truth, there are two.
Judith, I think the lesson to be learned from the peacock is that you are wearing your colors whether you are showing them off or not, the haiku deals with the question of the purpose for showing off the colors. Are you showing them off to lure someone into your web, or are you simply wearing your colors confidently. I think the peacock teaches that you don't need to have be showing off all the time in order to be seen in your true beauty. It is a question I have struggled with all my life as an artist, to show, or not to show, and why.
Also Judith, I think the image shows that the peacock is stunning just standing there, I take hope from that. ;-)
The beauty of words, photos, and paintings for me is that interpretation is seen through the eyes of the seer. I fully accept your interpretation of your most beautiful haiku; that others might see things differently points to its power to draw. I am appreciative of your work.
I completely agree with you that the peacock is beautiful as photographed above. But there can be no doubt that it is glorious when fully arrayed. Silence sometimes speak volumes without spoken words. Perhaps this is an interpretation of the photo too.
I really enjoy your work, Cat. Thank you.
Judith, Absolutely he is, splendid when on display.
And thank you my friend.
Cat, I would imagine that with your gifts of poetry and photography, not to mention music, others will see you and command you to create, if only through their very existence alone. You undoubtedly draw from the source of many wells. This is apparent in your photos, words and music and I have been blessed by both.
J, Thank you so much for such kind words! I have to give credit to the 'source' of which you speak, usually I feel like 'I' am just getting in the way of that constant flow of water from something much much greater than what I can possibly comprehend.
Some years ago backstage at the Metropolitian Opera in New York I met the great soprano Leonytne Price. She looked at me and said, "You must be a singer." I agreed. "Jump on in," she said, with the warmest southern accent, "the water's fine." Wade in the water.
Very poignant, Cat. An interesting question posed. I want to say, yes,- if "colors" are synonymous with kindness, goodness, compassion, benevolence, consideration, gentleness, sympathy, etc.
Beautiful Haiku. ;)
Hi K, that's a beautiful thought! And yet, even then I think it depends on the intent for the showing. If we are showing our colors in order to win someone's attention whom we desire, or are trying to win their affections in some way, then our showing is not authentic, and I believe that inauthentic attempt is sensed and naturally disliked.
However, wearing our colors authentically and without a hidden agenda is always beautiful, at least I think so.
What an interesting question...
The answer is probably yes and probably no. It so much depends on who asks and who answers...
The photo is amazing!
Vesper glad to see you floating around over here on that warm little underground stream! Writing is a green leaf of hope I think. As far as your comment, I agree. Who asks, and for what purpose...
I just had another thought question about this poem. If a person is spending all their time showing you their colors in order to win you over, do they seeing you at all? In my experience, no, because all of their attention is going toward their own display. You are merely an object to them at this point, something they want to get and keep. I saw they, but I've been guilty of this behavior myself on more than one occasion, hence the poem. It is me laughing at my own neurosis. :-)
Oh, forgive all my typos in that last comment. I'm not in editing mode yet today.
I agree with your comment about intent being the deciding factor.
Just showing one's colors will not make another love you, it only results in love for the colors. Love comes from caring, sharing, and understanding.
Hello Aine, I could not have said it better myself...
There's nothing really I can ad to that great discussion! Aren't we all 'that' peacocks at times?
Hi Fida, yes indeed we are!
Simple and elegant. Those colors
are truly awesome.
Please visit my latest chapter:
http://poemflesh2.blogspot.com
Hi Cynthia, your new blog is lovely. I await The Epiphany with great excitement.
Oh, most definitely!
Hi Leon, Welcome, your publishing credentials and professional sites are very impressive for someone of your age! Despite your article in regards to the dumbing down of society, I'd have to say that you are an exception to the argument you made. I hope you'll return!
Judith, I've thought about your question, and I think your feeling about the "no" turning to a "yes" is after reflection and thought. I was thinking about the initial reaction. The immediate, visceral one before thought. As Catvibe points out, the peacock is beautiful. We're drawn to it. Our interpretation of it reflects who we are and what we desire. It could be its colors, its confidence, its evolution. Our love for it is an expression of our needs. That "yes" to love becomes a "no," however, when we realize, as the objective observer, that the peacock wants love for itself. It has drawn us in, true, but we have imposed the satisfaction of our own needs on it rather that delve deeper to discover the love the peacock wants in return. We erroneously believe that all the peacock wanted was to receive the love we instinctly give. Unfortunately, the peacock intended that to be the beginning point, not the end point.
The one-sided love fails.
Excellent insights Jason, I would expect no less from you. I don't agree however, that one sided love fails, at least not in the overall sense. Since it is bound to happen to everyone from time to time, there is much self growth to be learned from one sided love if one is willing to do the learning, it helps not to take one's self too seriously, in fact it helps to laugh out loud often as you watch your antics! Also, there is much to be found as fodder for the creative imagination in those unrequited situations. History has shown how art and literature love a good muse.
In the proper perspective, failures and dashed dreams become inspiration, personal growth and creative expression.
Jason - Thank you for your response. Is there every a moment without thought? We are thoughtful beings, even the visceral evolves out of something. It is with poetic license that we ascribe understanding and feelings to the peacock, for we could not say with certainty that the peacock wants this or that. But it is this license that makes the arts meaningful; expression is the life of art. Again, thanks.
You know, I can't believe you had to explain "Catvibe" to me! (thanks for doing it, though). Now I have to run pipe cleaners in one ear and out the other to get the gunk out of my brain.
Rick, it's a common mistake. Since the moniker is also on my license plate, people almost always make the assumption that I am a cat lover. I usually just say yes, and leave it at that.
Catvibe, that's clearly an area in which I need to grow. One-sided love feels like an untenable situation to me. Resolution must come one way or another--common ground, or an end to the feelings. I think you're right, though. I need to explore where those emotions can be reshaped and seen as a positive force.
Judith, you're welcome. :) Thank you for the dialogue.
Jason, Judith, and everyone here good insights and excellent discussions. I thank you all for such a great dialogue.
Cat,
This one hit me deeply! I know I feel that way more times than I care to admit!
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