there is only so much one day can hold...

A Color of the sky

by Tony Hoagland

Windy today and I feel less than brilliant,

driving over the hills from work.

There are the dark parts on the road

                     when you pass through clumps of wood

and the bright spots where you have a view of the ocean,

but that doesn’t make the road an allegory.

I should call Marie and apologize

for being so boring at dinner last night,

but can I really promise not to be that way again?

And anyway, I’d rather watch the trees, tossing

in what certainly looks like sexual arousal.

Otherwise it’s spring, and everything looks frail;

the sky is baby blue, and the just-unfurling leaves

are full of infant chlorophyll,

the very tint of inexperience.

Last summer’s song is making a comeback on the radio,

and on the highway overpass,

the only metaphysical vandal in America has written

MEMORY LOVES TIME

in big black spraypaint letters,

which makes us wonder if Time loves Memory back.

Last night I dreamed of X again.

She’s like a stain on my subconscious sheets.

Years ago she penetrated me

but though I scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed,

I never got her out,

but now I’m glad.

What I thought was an end turned out to be a middle.

What I thought was a brick wall turned out to be a tunnel.

What I thought was an injustice

turned out to be a color of the sky.

Outside the youth center, between the liquor store

and the police station,

a little dogwood tree is losing its mind;

overflowing with blossomfoam,

like a sudsy mug of beer;

like a bride ripping off her clothes,

dropping snow white petals to the ground in clouds,

so Nature’s wastefulness seems quietly obscene.

It’s been doing that all week:

making beauty,

and throwing it away,

and making more.

Comments

[lotta]

Misty - what lovely photographs and poem. I am glad you are back hope to see you soon. best, lotta

[lk]

Oh, the trees in that fog!
xo

[kim]

wow, you certainly have captured the beauty in those trees...those need to be framed and hanging up where the world can see them!!
xoxoxox

[samm]

Nature's wastefulness... so Buddist in her actions, like the exquisite sand mandalas "drawn" over hours only to be washed away, in an instant, back to nature. If only I could learn to let go like that... to trust that the next thing will be just as beautiful and that I don't need to cling onto everything for ever. sighhhhhhh xoxoxo

[Candace]

Misty, just lovely lovely photos that dovetail so well with the poem. Guess what? The day can and will hold even more. I see it happening.

Thank you for sharing.
Candace

[Carmen]

Those trees are breathe taking!

[Brian]

I love the first photo. With the rounded corners, ethereal atmosphere, and unique tonal quality, it almost looks as if you might have scanned a 19th century tin-type or ambro-type. Assuming you took this near your home, I confess a love of those foggy Shenandoah Valley days. When I was in college in Lexington, these thick, rare fogs would drift over the campus, making us feel as if we'd been elevated to the nearby mountains.

[Beth]

what a gift of writing you have !
so beautiful.....

beth
www.moredoors.blogspot.com

[FRANCESCA]

Hi you should never Apologise for being yourself !I'm sure your friend Enjoyed your company.

You have such a gift of Writing and Art .You should write a Book with lovely illustrations made by you .You truly are very talented and highly tuned in to life .

I love visiting your blog thank you for sharing love from sesga xx

[andrea]

Those photographs are just beautiful.

[Tina]

The trees in the fog....breathtaking.

[Hol]

Powerful poem from Tony Hoagland, I will look him up. Thank-you Misty, for the photos ..& the words... I hope you are safe and sound.... OX, hol

[angeljoy]

Lovely poem and the last photo reminds me of Vemeer's Girl with the Pearl Earring.

[jane]

I got the same feeling as the above poster...Girl with NINA Earring. thanks so much for the heads up about the Lantern CD by Clogs. I ended up buying the whole thing on iTunes today...I am always on the prowl for more background music for painting.

[kateri]

Hello beautiful...

beauty, beauty everywhere...so full!

xox

I want to sit amongst that whisper of trees...

[Suzi Blu]

Misty, never, ever, delete your thoughts. Even if you think they are the same ones rehashed - you are still going thru them or you wouldn't want to write about them. It takes courage to take those first thoughts and put them out there without editing. And its always a new day when you think them. I agree you need to have a book. Just about you. Your photographs. Your thoughts. Your life. You. I'd say self publish thru lulu.com.