‘Columns’
…who, or what, are our pillars of strength?..
Columns
Tag: Strength
The Strong One
‘The Strong One’
” ‘Cause isn’t it hard
to be the one who gathers everybody’s tears
isn’t it hard
to be the strong one “
– ‘ The Strong One’, Bruce Cockburn
Some ruminations:
As to the photo image – the Stonehenge-like sculpture blends almost with the background of trees.
Truly strong people are sometimes unnoticeable.
They are always there – for others, to gather their tears (as Cockburn’s beautiful lyric states); constant and loyal.
Some mistake displays of dynamism, power and muscle-flexing for strong character.
The true strong ones of our world carry burdens without reward and recognition.
Maybe you are one of those that others rely on.
It is hard, to be the strong one.
Take time to take care of yourself too…
Construct Yr Rainbow
Don’t wish for blind luck or pots of gold at the end of prismatic ether in the sky.
Construct your rainbow from your inherent strength and let it take you to the other side.
Ride your arc !
Trinity
Three,of course, is a prime number – only divisible by itself.
The sculpture piece pictured here, with its three conjoined hands, speaks of unity and that which only itself can divide.
A flesh triangle of simple form and strength, against a spiky palm backdrop.
“We are all in this together, come what may” it says to me.
Truly Twisted
Twisted things get a bad rap mostly.
If you twist the truth, you lie, and that is not generally a good thing.
Except we often don’t want to call a lie out for what it is sometimes.
So a liar ‘gilds the lily’, is ‘economic with the truth’ or just ‘a little disingenuous.’
A twist on a twist, as it were.
Snakes are twisty, sorta unloved and often deadly.
Actual twisters are beautiful , but wreak havoc and destruction in their paths.
‘Twists of fate’ are random and unpredictable.
Truth is ,we are all twisted in some way.
Biologically. Socially. Environmentally. Psychologically. Intellectually.
That just comes with being human.
However, being twisted does not prevent a spiral staircase; a double helix; a rope; or a vine, being purposeful, strong and creative.
I’ll leave it to you to add your own twist to things…
Together In Precarious Places
Gannet Colony, Muriwai Beach, NZ
Back to the beach and birds.
Previously: Return Of The Gannets
Where, and how, they gather together in this place is a marvel.
It’s not easy.
The migration route across the Tasman Sea to this very location, for some of the gannets at least, is a miracle of sorts.
But even the smallest things are difficult.
On a recent trip out to Muriwai, I observed one gannet make a dozen unsuccessful passes trying to deposit twigs as nesting material to its partner. Landing in the small nest space (indentations in the soft rock and dirt , which they create) was prevented time and again by the swirling gusts of wind. I watched for minutes and the creature persevered, but still hadn’t completed the task by the time I left (it was way worse than any airline delays and technical issues I have suffered through!).
The bird was working so hard for its mate and family.
The entire flock of gannets pull together to survive in this precarious place of wind, sea and clifftops.
So too, vulnerable people need each other just to get by.
Immigrants in strange lands. Struggling sports teams. Addicts in recovery. The destitute and homeless.
Communities formed by necessity and nurtured by mutual reliance. Strength in numbers, for sure.
When the odds are stacked against you, there are no prizes for being a f**king lone ranger…
Ebb Then Flood 