Saturday, May 24, 2014

EVERYTHING SHINES IN THE MORNING LIGHT


An idyllic week at the wild coast


We had Long Beach to our selves every day
Not another soul to be seen


 Hours of walking, fishing  and foraging







I'm drawn to the broken shells
especially the black turbans 
which peel back to reveal spirals of rust



BREAKAGE by Mary Oliver

I go down to the edge of the sea.
How everything shines in the morning light!
The cusp of the whelk,
the broken cupboard of clam,
the opened, blue mussels,
moon snails, pale pink and scarred --
and nothing at all whole or shut, but battered, split,
dropped by the gulls onto the gray rocks and all the moisture
gone.
It's like a schoolhouse
of little words,
thousands of words.
First you figure out what each one means by itself,
the jingle, the periwinkle, the scallop
full of moonlight.

Then you begin, slowly, to read the whole story.



Our room had a little garret above it
which we named the eagle's aerie
We did a lot of holiday reading there


 I savoured Donna Watson's exquisite book
The Beauty of Nothingness



and lost myself in several novels.








"Of course reading and thinking are important but, my God, food is important too."  -  Iris Murdoch, The sea, the sea

56 comments:

  1. These are just beautiful, Robin....
    Something magical about the edge of the sea no matter where one is.

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  2. It's such a beautiful place, Diane. The road is horrendous but it doesn't stop us going back year after year.

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  3. As ever, this story, the photos, the thoughts ... all exquisitely crafted. Thank you for this little glimpse into your world today, Robyn. I love that stack of books -- I have more than half of them. The others I may have to check out of the library. Soon. Also enjoy your photos of broken shells in the light and of course ... Mary Oliver's beautiful poem.

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    1. Thanks so much Maureen. A book stack always gets my attention too..... and as for Mary Oliver ... she manages to hit the nail on the head whenever I need a poem for a nature post.

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  4. Several days in a quiet, beautiful and inspiring place! To be alone, to follow your wishes, to enjoy every minute... Isn't this happiness?:) Magnificent photos, Robyn!
    Have you seen the ones that I took from a similar trip to our Black Sea?...

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    1. No TV, no radios, no newspapers.... completely cut off from the worries of the world. I'll pop over to see your photos, thanks Rossichka.

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  5. what a lovely walk along the beach, I can smell the tang of salt in the air, thank you Robyn!

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  6. What a fabulous look into your day! I love the BOATS photo!
    You should use that one in your ART! Have a Super Day!

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    1. Thanks Sue. That day next to the boats was a particularly peaceful day.

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  7. Sounds, and looks, idyllic...except perhaps for the unfortunate first glance at the fisherman...looked like he was hanging...oops.

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    1. Jo, we are practically rolling on the floor laughing. Thanks for that. Nothing like a good laugh!

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    2. Of course I had to scroll hurriedly back to see what the fisherman was dangling! So funny. And yes, Mary Oliver... she says it just right. I love the edge of the continent, too. It restores calm.

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  8. Sounds idyllic. We go on vacation next month and I can't wait to be by the sea. Heading to North California by the redwoods. :)

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    1. Have a wonderful holiday Kathryn. Hope to hear all about it when you get back.

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  9. Would love to walk this wild beach.
    w






    Would have loved to have walked this wild beach. We are missing this year's Coffin Bay trip due to the illness of two of the crew and John is missing the fishing and I am missing the walks.

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    1. Penny the beach is perfect for walking because it is hard at the water's edge. Easy on the legs :-)
      Such a pity you have missed out on your Coffin bay trip.

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  10. I grew more peaceful just reading this post ......
    Sure like your book stack ;>]

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    1. C, I don't think I've felt so peaceful in a long time.

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  11. I've missed your considered postings. I've been anticipating your return.

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    1. How sweet of you to say so, D. I thought of you when ever I picked up a pebble (which was often) and wondered if you had made any headway with your project.

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  12. Your wild beach looks like another world. Great photos. Thanks for the
    book titles to explore. You must be recharged for making and seeing now.

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    1. It feels like another world, Patty. It's quite a shock to surface again.

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  13. Robyn, This looks like BLISS to me,the quiet, the ocean, the beach, the shells and the books, who could ask for more. xoxo

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  14. What a beautiful place to be . . . that shoreline, the birds, the boats, and a great stack of books. Paradise found!

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    1. So far I've managed to keep a little of that sense of calm with me. I have a stack of smooth wild coast pebbles to inspire me.

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  15. Oh, how gorgeous. A place I think you've shown us before. I was walking through each photo, listening.....

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    1. Annie, I know you understand the listening. Your poems and your posts about your beach often came to mind while out walking.

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  16. Such a beautiful and peaceful place. I always enjoy the photographs from your yearly travels. Thank you!

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  17. You should feel rejuvenated after such an idyllic time. I feel better just reading about your holiday. AAahhhhhh

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    1. I think this was the most peaceful holiday we've ever had. We've come home rejuvenated and I've dived straight into my art, feeling like a new person.

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  18. Oh what a precious time and place. Love the look of some of those books; any recommendations???

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    1. I've not read The Constant Gardner by John Le Carre yet but I'm told it is excellent. Patrick Gale is a recently discovered author. I enjoyed his Notes from an Exhibition.

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  19. That looks so wonderful! Thank you for sharing.

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  20. Love when you share this place; the rhythms of life unfold. Happy Birthday month Robyn.

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  21. i love the sea, Good to live so near.

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    1. This was a 9 hour hectic trip! I suppose if it were easy to get there there would be too many people for comfit so I try to think of the bad road as a blessing.

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  22. It does sound idyllic, completely. The ocean is always so comforting and wild, and the broken shells, I love them... Of course Mary Oliver would understsnd that...

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    1. Yes, Mary Oliver always has the right words...

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  23. Such a great week at the Wild Coast. You ought to do more ;-)

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  24. Lovelyfotos, great landscape, greeting from Belgium

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  25. R - thank you for sharing your morning light. I think dawn light is so special - so soft, nurturing the environment. The birds are even so respectful and quiet at this time. The calming energy is so refreshing. Continue to enjoy the gifts of morning light. Peace. B

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    1. I love to hear the birds waking, one at a time until there is a whole chorus.

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  26. Probably the last to say what others have said ... Mary Oliver poem touched me clear to the bone ... your photos and words the same. Beautiful and thoughtful post Robyn.

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  27. Thanks Mary Ann, I'm often moved by Mary Oliver's poems.

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  28. I read this post about a month ago... wow, how fast time flies.. I thought I had left a comment then.. but then I must of thought I would be back soon and now a month has flown by.... wow again. Thank you so much for including my little collage book in your post...and I love your morning light images... so beautiful as well as the poem.

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