Words

I find myself mute, not knowing what to write on this blank page. Images take over and speak for themselves, words becoming a burden.

Immersed in this world of images and of truncated words, I remember a book read long ago, describing a world where the knowledge of words was deliberately reduced to the minimum required for day to day communication.

For more words mastered, the more the ability to think and to share those thoughts with others.

Transformed by light

Spring

Just before dawn, the city birds sing loudly in the dark.

The tower, the top

The tower

After living here a lifetime, here we are by chance in front of the Montparnasse Tower.

Hey, I never went up there! Shall we go? Let's pretend we're tourists.

Up up the last three flights of stairs in eery light.
Modern mixed with old

Why didn't we do this before?

We're not tourists.

Again the little yellow train

And stops here.

The little yellow train continued

I like to travel by train. The little yellow train is a special one. It chuggs across the Pyrrenean mountains, half empty out of season.

The little yellow train

Pause

Rummage in the attic of my mind and shuffle the dust in the old picture boxes picking up bits and pieces to show. Chose a bit of daily magic and try to put the pieces together. What will come out of this? Will the result just be bits and pieces, or will a lifeline emerge?

Friend, you are well, my dream was true. It is a time of hardship but you are well and you make me laugh.

Embudhu Finolhu

Friend, last night I dreamt of you
and you were well and happy.
May it be true.

Global World

"Try this Madam, King Coconut is good for you.

Taste Madam it's good."

King Coconut is a bright orange thing, you slice its off the top

with a machete kind of knife

and drink its milky sweetish water.

Wrapped up in clear plastic,

its orange or maybe green skin removed,

I discover coconuts to drink displayed here in a shop window,

next to apples and oranges of our western world.

Orchids

Almost real

Beaubourg, blue, red and yellow, framed with medieval stone.

Global World

Six a clock in the morning, the sky is heavy with clowds and the "Kaw Kaw" of the crows breaks through a steady background hum. Where am I?

I remember years ago, far far away, the same croaking chant of those shiny feathered dark birds. The gentle hum of the waves licking the sand. The dark monsoon clowds and the rising wet heat. Only the crows seemed well fed, perched high on piles of rotting coconut husks. I had never seen them so big.

No, no, I am not in that far away place, I am here in Paris, since then the crows have crossed the ocean and the continent, they are here and have made this their home.

Three metro snapshots

A strong slim sculptural ebony hand stretches over our heads
and rests on the top of the metro door.

Pink hooded sweatshirt and baby blue underneath,
a young man stares sadly at his feet.

Thinning hair and very very bushy eyebrows,
a man reads "The Lady in Green".

What a nice day to fly

I scream

I scream

You scream

We all like

Ice Cream

Waves

The waves rush forward

and break on the rocks.

The colors blurr.

It looks so ancient.

Heat & Fan

Jumping shadows

OK brother I'll play your game

OK brother, I'll play your game.

See how I can do what you do.

Like you,

I play the role

given to me to earn my daily bread,

but don't think that that means

that I am not free to do as I please.

Walking in the trees

Look up to the sky and you will see him walking in the trees. With ropes tied to his ankle he climbs up the tall smooth trunk. With ropes tied between one trunk and the other, he walks in the trees, gathering coconuts on the way

Praha Tag

The difference in spirit of this tag of Praha, compared to what I have seen elsewhere, is quite impressive. It's so very serious, no colors, such careful drawing and it gives a sense of dread. Maybe today no such tags are to be found.

Buses

Around the world, I take the bus, each one has its own personality. Out of my cardboard photo box, I pull out some old pictures and wish I had taken the red TATA bus I took to ride up to Anuradhapura, or the colourful buses in India or Thailand, or other buses which I have forgotten. But all I have, are those taken in Nuremburg, Praha and Hong Kong buses, few yet a collection however small.

PRAHA

HONG KONG

NUREMBERG

The Gate

And from sea to earth, the gate between earth and sky, each line carefully drawn.

Colors again

The sea, the sea!

Colors

The beautiful bright colors of Greece - the blue above all - the sky, the sea - the sharp white - with the red or yellow which strikes as a surprise. All so pure. OK it's not very original, but indeed it is beautiful.

Aiuto

Hi, hi there, help I'm drowning!

Tea for Two

Not much to say about this one. Just tea for two at a café. But the texture caught my eye.

Playground

Paris Bazaar

Truly it is a global world,
where Indian bazaars
hide in the streets of Paris.

Sky

Walking through the park, eyes half open, I suddenly look up at the sky.