...I've too much to say. Or rather, I've too much to feel
they do look like a family of bears though too, or maybe wolves. One is the mother and another is her child. Maybe I even see the third, a baby one- or it might be the mother's paw. They're sad. And very kind.
I’m always reading about what “writing” is here on Substack, lots of “experts” about, but writing is really only the guiding of another’s emotional state through words, to open up someone else’s mind where they feel the world through the writer. You manage that EVERY time Fotini. Amazing. I love to read your stuff so thank you so much. Excellent. It’s too hot and bright here to write on this stupid little phone so I’ll leave it there :)
It’s too hot to do anything theses days, my friend, but I took an oath this year not to complain about the heat. I try to look at the (too) bright side of this without being a grumpy old chic. I am not very good at it, but your comment made my day :)
Summer days are for vast horizons, Jonathan, not for tiny screens. Books are for all seasons :) Thanks for giving me one more book for my endless pile!
I only dream in English, the Irish language is dead in most parts here. Your greek roots come across quite strong in your writing, I admire that so much.
“…the sky an ever-shifting grey mass of clouds that conceal the sun but give every surface a deep, saturated sheen, and the air, laden with secrets, circulates inconspicuously, passing on earth’s most intimate song” So beautiful, Fotini. I see three faces; the one in the middle feels female-ish, she is turned left towards the male in conversation, I wish I knew, her dainty-ish mouth close to his large one. While the one on the far right, on the end , faces the sky, but seems fast asleep, or in a meditative state. I suppose they might look different on any given day, depending on who they are listening or speaking to. I certainly understand, you do not wish to list your adjectives, private after all, but do you wear them around your neck like a string of beads, hidden under your shirt?
The one on the far right is not always visible... and the first time I saw it, I couldn't make sense of it. But then it occurred to me that it is the part that comes to be only when heart and mind are in unison. The potential is already there, dreaming of waking up. But maybe I am wrong or just fooling myself...
The beads feel more like stones stuck inside my throat. I am being unfair to actual stones, but you know what I mean.
You could make an actual string of beads and offer it to the lake, or wherever feels appropriate. And I could make a cairn... I read somewhere recently that a ritual is called "embodied metaphor"
Ooh, I have some wooden beads that would be perfect. Yes, a trail cairn,I actually have erected quite a few down our long two track driveway through the woods to our camp. Mostly because I love everything about rocks, so I like to stack a few that somehow stay in place, small rock sculptures. I like the idea of a cairn, to mark a journey, spiritual, physical , beginning, on the trail, the destination…
Following your reflections through this piece was a wonderful experience, Fotini. I could feel the tension and the heart in your words. And that you kept the piece in that tension was a powerful thing to do.
I also really enjoyed the way you repeated certain phrases, at some spots, almost back to back. It was very well done. :)
I guess the frustration of trying to write something I didn’t know I wanted to write until I started writing gave rise to that tension. But it was not my intention, Michael :) I just reacted to what came out of nowhere.
I love your long walks on a hill dear Fotini and yet more this next part of your story!
I read the other day about living in two languages which I do, so much so I no longer clearly decipher one from the other, I read in both, speak in both, dream and think in both, neither feel rooted, neither bloom anymore. It isn't just a passage of language, it’s absorbing a culture and all the emotions therein. It’s the experience of belonging to two worlds and to neither all at once and never quite settling in either.
It is a sad thing, but I think what I have gained in French I have lost in English, both are a trial, a test and they always will be. xx
The Greeks once understood that feeling and thinking were parts of the same process. They/we forgot, but the land reminds us what we once felt and knew; without the union of heart and mind, we lose our bearings."
Why we insist on deconstructing things when the whole is so rich
I love the poem Fotini... Although ironically what really takes time and effort is to break reality down into Higgs Boson particles 😂 The whole is with us always and always there in front of us... But you know... Our chattering minds
I like this Fotini as much as the other, maybe more, but it says “to be continued,” so I hope to find out. 😊
It is a rather long walk, Paul, I hope not too tiresome :)
Thank you for coming along!
I’ve enjoyed it thus far, Fotini! Thank you
...I've too much to say. Or rather, I've too much to feel
they do look like a family of bears though too, or maybe wolves. One is the mother and another is her child. Maybe I even see the third, a baby one- or it might be the mother's paw. They're sad. And very kind.
The stones, I explained
I see their faces
You are not alone in this, she whispers to him...
🪄
you're also not alone in many.. things (? "no, not things" but)
but...
despite the distance... 🖤
🖤
We carry so many things- people, knowledge - with us I’m surprised we can stand upright
Resilient we are among other ‘things’ …
I’m always reading about what “writing” is here on Substack, lots of “experts” about, but writing is really only the guiding of another’s emotional state through words, to open up someone else’s mind where they feel the world through the writer. You manage that EVERY time Fotini. Amazing. I love to read your stuff so thank you so much. Excellent. It’s too hot and bright here to write on this stupid little phone so I’ll leave it there :)
It’s too hot to do anything theses days, my friend, but I took an oath this year not to complain about the heat. I try to look at the (too) bright side of this without being a grumpy old chic. I am not very good at it, but your comment made my day :)
You are dealing with next level Hellenic heat though, the odd complaint out of the corner of your mouth is more than acceptable I reckon :)
Any book recommendation would be welcome right now, all I do is read these days :)
I can’t believe I haven’t replied, sorry Fotini, somehow these summers days sneak past in little groups of two or three.
I really enjoyed reading “Martyr” by Kaveh Akbar a few weeks back, definitely worth your time. I’d be interested to know what you think :)
Summer days are for vast horizons, Jonathan, not for tiny screens. Books are for all seasons :) Thanks for giving me one more book for my endless pile!
I only dream in English, the Irish language is dead in most parts here. Your greek roots come across quite strong in your writing, I admire that so much.
It is sad, the way things change, the things we lose, the unspoken words... Irish sound otherworldly to me, yet beautiful!
I adore this, Fontini. I’m so glad to have gone on this heart-mind journey with you.
It feels good to have you by my side, LeeAnn. Thank you! 🙏
“…the sky an ever-shifting grey mass of clouds that conceal the sun but give every surface a deep, saturated sheen, and the air, laden with secrets, circulates inconspicuously, passing on earth’s most intimate song” So beautiful, Fotini. I see three faces; the one in the middle feels female-ish, she is turned left towards the male in conversation, I wish I knew, her dainty-ish mouth close to his large one. While the one on the far right, on the end , faces the sky, but seems fast asleep, or in a meditative state. I suppose they might look different on any given day, depending on who they are listening or speaking to. I certainly understand, you do not wish to list your adjectives, private after all, but do you wear them around your neck like a string of beads, hidden under your shirt?
I think I do. Looking forward to the next one.
The one on the far right is not always visible... and the first time I saw it, I couldn't make sense of it. But then it occurred to me that it is the part that comes to be only when heart and mind are in unison. The potential is already there, dreaming of waking up. But maybe I am wrong or just fooling myself...
The beads feel more like stones stuck inside my throat. I am being unfair to actual stones, but you know what I mean.
You could make an actual string of beads and offer it to the lake, or wherever feels appropriate. And I could make a cairn... I read somewhere recently that a ritual is called "embodied metaphor"
Ooh, I have some wooden beads that would be perfect. Yes, a trail cairn,I actually have erected quite a few down our long two track driveway through the woods to our camp. Mostly because I love everything about rocks, so I like to stack a few that somehow stay in place, small rock sculptures. I like the idea of a cairn, to mark a journey, spiritual, physical , beginning, on the trail, the destination…
Following your reflections through this piece was a wonderful experience, Fotini. I could feel the tension and the heart in your words. And that you kept the piece in that tension was a powerful thing to do.
I also really enjoyed the way you repeated certain phrases, at some spots, almost back to back. It was very well done. :)
I guess the frustration of trying to write something I didn’t know I wanted to write until I started writing gave rise to that tension. But it was not my intention, Michael :) I just reacted to what came out of nowhere.
I think reacting to what came out nowhere worked well, as I thought the tension was actually really good. :)
I love your long walks on a hill dear Fotini and yet more this next part of your story!
I read the other day about living in two languages which I do, so much so I no longer clearly decipher one from the other, I read in both, speak in both, dream and think in both, neither feel rooted, neither bloom anymore. It isn't just a passage of language, it’s absorbing a culture and all the emotions therein. It’s the experience of belonging to two worlds and to neither all at once and never quite settling in either.
It is a sad thing, but I think what I have gained in French I have lost in English, both are a trial, a test and they always will be. xx
Are we now learning 'a language indigenous to the heart?' Maybe the heart is one step away from that mind. One step closer to the Soul.
I want to speak in this tongue too.
Beautiful prose writing Fotini. (More!)
An accompanying track for your piece from The National.
https://youtu.be/KrCTNeuvmqA?si=tjirOrQ5Pa8wR3XZ
(maybe) the Soul needs Heart and Mind in union, for she cannot fly otherwise
Thank you for the love and the music, Síodhna 🖤
The elusive, transient soar of a Soul
needs two wings.
I'm imagining the counter forces of heart and mind in temporary balance,
as wings.
A fledging still… testing her wings!
The Greeks once understood that feeling and thinking were parts of the same process. They/we forgot, but the land reminds us what we once felt and knew; without the union of heart and mind, we lose our bearings."
Why we insist on deconstructing things when the whole is so rich
Because we are not used to see the whole?
Because we are trained not to see the whole?
Because it takes time and effort to see the whole?
I love the poem Fotini... Although ironically what really takes time and effort is to break reality down into Higgs Boson particles 😂 The whole is with us always and always there in front of us... But you know... Our chattering minds