Sound

damp and cold
the sound of bells
warms the soul

 

***

This is a photograph I’ve posted before, but never unedited. One of my favorite parts of London is the South Embankment of the Thames. It offers a walk that can take all day if you choose. Almost every iconic view of the city can be seen, while eateries and museums are the perfect rest stops. A fabulous book flea market and a graffiti skateboard park add in a little more flavor to a walk that gives you quintessential London.

London will always have a special place in my heart. With it’s old soul, bustling energy, and nooks and crannies, there is alway something to explore.

Photo: London, c.b.w. 2011

Words: haiku, c.b.w. 2019

Lost

lost
a soft whisper
leads us home

 

– – –

Photo: Proxy Falls, Oregon, c.b.w. 2015

Some views make you work for it. A friend and I drove from Portland, Oregon into the wilds of the Willamette National Forest. We got lost more than once, almost ran out of gas in the middle of nowhere, and she could have sworn a bear was following us as we hiked the trail, (there was no bear, but I digress). It wasn’t long before the trail turned into more of a suggestion and we had to guess where the waterfall might be … that’s when we started listening. We followed the sound of cascading water until we finally spotted it through the trees. This hidden beauty was worth all the obstacles and imaginary bears. What a view!

Words: c.b.w. 2019

Blaze

one last fire
burns the day
out in a blaze

 

– – –

Photo: Northern Wisconsin, c.b.w. 2005 (no filter!)

I’ve shared this image before, but it still offers inspiration every time I happen across it. It’s from a place not many know of as it is hidden carefully in the depths of the Northwoods in Wisconsin. In many ways, I consider it a privilege that I’ve been allowed to know the secret. It’s a place where loons call without the sound of cars or planes. At night, the sky is more light than dark because there are so many stars instead of city lights. Sunsets blaze across the sky and melt into crystal clear water. You can hear your own heartbeat fall into sync with gentle waves lapping the shore.

Words: c.b.w. 2019

Spin

cypress trees
warm in the sun
prayer wheels spin

– – –

Photo: Jingshan Park, Beijing, China, c.b.w. 2005

It’s rare to find a moment to yourself in Beijing. Pretty much everywhere you go there are throngs of people in every direction. So, when you do find that moment, it’s paradise. Cypress trees rustle overhead and the sweet smell of lilies are the only company, softly whispering to slow down and enjoy the solitude.

In places like this, the past is never far away with temples that have stood for centuries donning fresh red paint and yellow-tiled roofs. The stories are there waiting to be discovered or simply appreciated anonymously. This is why you take just one photograph and put the camera away. The rest belongs in a sacred place only your memory knows.

– – –

Yes, I’m continuing to dig through the archives.  It’s amazing how photographs I’ve taken and seen a million times (not to mention experienced) have captured my imagination once more. In many ways, I’m seeing places I’ve seen before with an entirely new perspective. Memories mean something more and continue to offer wisdom. The journey shall continue …

– – –

Words: c.b.w. 2019

Bend

leafless branches
bend the light
and dance

 

– – –

Photo: Granite Dells, Prescott, AZ, c.b.w. 2013

The desert seems so barren and devoid of life, but the light that dances across the crevices and through leafless branches is boundless. It touches everything leaving warmth and a sense of something divine and unstoppable. Shadows are few yet not without purpose; they are a place where thoughts collect and wait for the silence of night.

Words: c.b.w. 2019