too often i said words that i wished i could pull back in my mouth and swallow the bitter anise flavored barbs of hate...envy...regret... but i didn't. i allowed them to spew forward and splash. over the landscape of my life. and my regret gave birth to little demons of shame and blame. the wonder twins of low self esteem. so i used the only weapon i have - shoved them in a closet and locked it tight. some days that closet feels overly full and threatens to pop open. can you have a estate sale for demons?
instead of feeding them i've been starving them by weaving together positive thoughts and prayers. they hate that stuff - it's liver and onions to them...or perhaps a meal of rubarb, mustard and sweetbreads. quite nasty. and they shiver in their tiny little pointy toed boots and kick at me...but miss. i use my butterfly net to capture pretty little words - etheral, lovely, gorgeous, lush, pleasant, abundance, blissful, joyous, happy, sheer, phenominal, and so they go. these are sparkly and elusive at times. but the fun is in the chase - right?
and i hope soon i won't have the taste of anise in my mouth. that words will taste like warm salty breezes off the coast of a tropical island. or like a pastry in paris. or a glass of wine in tuscany...or something perfect and unsullied. though i'm sure from time to time there will be a bit of licorice there, no one really wants to be polly perfect all the time. do they? polly can be a bit of a bore. i would rather be her rather funny, slightly loose with a smidge of wicked, and tangishly sweet cousin - paulette.
words?...oh girl, you got words alright and this post brought them together FABULOUSLY !!!! WOW!!
ReplyDeleteWhat's the saying, "A picture says a thousand words."
ReplyDeleteFunny that you should mention Tybee Island and the Mermaid Cottages... I recieved an email today with a link to Jane Coslick's new site with photos of her Tybee cottage... it's even for sale!
ReplyDeleteTake a look at the pretty photos...
www.lusciouslittlecottage.com
LOVE your photos... hope Etsy is going well!
ENJOY!
Fifi
You have strung together a great collection of words here, and created alternate images to complement your photographs. Capturing words with a butterfly net ... tasting like a pastry in Paris ... Barbs of hate, envy and regret ... So many perfect images, developed from language.
ReplyDeletethis has to be my favorite post from you ever. incredible writing, Char. so real. so good. you are very gifted, my friend. you must keep on bringing us these words--butterflies or not.
ReplyDeletei love that first photo, too. both are great, but the first one is just so soothing to me. your talent for the visual through words and pictures is so good. what a gift.
i sure am going to miss your blog. it's been a great place of comfort for me. i'll be thinkin' about you while i'm in FL, though. too bad you can't join me for the fun in the sun--we could be two unemployed beach bums for a week! :)
have a blessed week!
(ps. i'm so excited! i have my new-used camera for the trip!)
Dear Paulette,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post.
It's a relief to know that
I'm not the only one that
struggles with words to
say, to write. Today, the
words you've written have
been like paint on the tip
of an artist's brush. And
the piece today is quite a
sight to see!
you have many many words. and don't you dare go off and become polly perfect and show the rest of us up. that would not be good. no fun. and they say for as high as you can go, you can go just as low, and somehow that makes us stronger and more interesting since we have the capacity for both. but i sure hope for more highs than lows. :)
ReplyDeletei hide behind images myself for fear that the words i produce may not be good enough.
ReplyDeletesometimes i regret having said words that are not only hateful, but even sincere words of affection. i'm in such a predicament now and was actually working on a post for my blog when i saw this.
this is sooooo beautifully worded! I absolutely connected with your 'words'.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written, I love it! So descriptive and lovely.
ReplyDeleteChar, your writing always makes your photos come alive in a deeply personal way -- it is one of the things I most admire about your blog. And I think it takes a certain amount of courage to be Paulette and not Polly -- to put it out there for all to read... and you are brave and funny and very talented. :)
ReplyDeleteVery interesting...hmmm
ReplyDeletesometimes it's better to let things be and if you'd rather be paulette, then be paulette.
I very much enjoyed your words today. We all have different sides to us.You are very vivid with your words, now I just have to figure out what a tybee cottage is.LOL.Take Care.
ReplyDeleteYour words are so descriptive today. I absolutely know how you are feeling. Tybee would be a good place to visit. I was there when my son was stationed in Savannah. Hang in there my friend!
ReplyDeleteWell first off dear if you have to fall back on something other than words and that thing happens to be your photography..well you are blessed then. Your photography is incredible. Secondly, I am a connoisseur of my own foot. I am acutely aware of its taste in my mouth and even have begun to try it with different seasonings, so I understand that feeling too.However, here is a place you can just let the words flow. That's the whole point of a BLOG and you do a great job. So let em all out! :-)
ReplyDeletebeautiful words, beautiful photos.
ReplyDeletei'm really enjoying your blog and photos!!
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are a language all of their own.
ReplyDeleteWow Char, reading your post I can say you should become a writter, great words there and I enjoy reading it :-)
ReplyDelete~K - that cracked me up. so what's your favorite seasonsing?
ReplyDeleteand thanks y'all....just something on my brain yesterday.
What's amazing Char is that have the true insight to take a step back and see the retreat behind the camera. I loved this post.
ReplyDeleteI announced you today as the giveaway guest blogger! Congrats and looking forward to your post.
You have a plethora of words, my dear! (Oh, I got the prints and love them!) I know what you mean. Wish I could have an estate sale like that and rid myself of bad habits. I have a quick temper and a mouth to match. So I'm there with ya, hon!
ReplyDeleteBrenda
paulette i like so much better...i so look forward to visiting you here be it words or images!
ReplyDeleteOh indeed, we can be sassy with soft edges. Great post!
ReplyDeleteoh wow. if there is anything you are not at a loss for, my dear, it is words. pure poetry.
ReplyDeleteThis is having trouble with words? This post is beautifully written! But perhaps you mean you have trouble when they come out of your mouth. I know I do sometimes. And I also know what it means to retreat behind the lens of a camera. It's not really a bad place to be, though. I mean, look at these photographs here. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteYou!
ReplyDeleteYou? A poet.
Definitely!!
oh my....how this post hit home for me! my tongue has been tied for months, although my mind has been in high gear! i can't seem to weave any sense into my words lately. But, i think you've been cured by what i just read....WOW! perfect, true, beautiful, and heart-touching! i'm so glad i was able to read this today :)
ReplyDeleteadjectives are your thing.
ReplyDeleteI do love your way with them though :)
ReplyDeleteYour words, your photographs...each talks loudly to me.
ReplyDelete