Saturday, January 28, 2017

colliding worlds

colliding worlds

the water is as still
as I’ve ever seen it
here in the islands
where the winds always blow
this morning it’s still enough
to see a clear reflection
of each lacy cloud overhead
only a hint of undulation
to betray the remnant of a breeze

but onshore
the island is coming awake
a shrill cacophony of roosters in the hills
a dog barking incessantly from a tanker nearby
(the poor thing’s been cooped up in there for days!)
cars on the road honking an occasional horn
a truck shifting gears, bouncing over a pothole
the dull hum of an outboard in the water far away
it’s a noisy disjointed symphony
intruding on my quiet morning

what I see is peaceful
what I hear is not
ear and eye offer colliding worlds,
perfectly juxtaposed—
noise and silence
motion and stillness
busyness and rest
the ordinariness of everyday life
and the deep quiet that feeds the spirit—
sometimes the two worlds collide
sometimes they embrace
either way, they are inseparable
the first is grist for the other’s mill
the second light on the first one’s path

monday 23 january
2017 after epiphany
Penns Landing

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