To Say Goodbye Is To Die A Little

Goodbye, Paris, sister city of my heart

You were beautiful, as always

and though your towers, your monuments and bridges

have always drawn those in search of your essence

 its often better found in open doorways

and windows

because its there you see the honest work of

hands and the tenderness of

 

touch from the care with which they are created.

 

Thank you for the indifference you show me

for it's through this very indifference that lets me learn the art of seeing you.

Until we meet again, bisous ❤️

 

 

*The research residency was a very interesting and intense time. We did a lot of walking (8-10 miles a day in some cases) took a lot of photos, presented and talked about our work at the Paris College of Art, listened to numerous lectures by curators, artists and historians and hosted an Open Studio at the historic atelier of the painter Amedeo Modigliani. Special thanks to Arnaud for being my guest at the Open Studio and for the walks we took around the neighborhoods.  I'm still re-adjusting to the time change but will get back to blogging again very soon. Until then, thank you, my friends, for checking in on me :))

Let It Find Us

 

i cannot tell you how the light comes

what i know is that it is more ancient than imagining

that it travels across an astounding expanse to reach us

that it loves searching out what is hidden

what is lost, what is forgotten

what is in peril or in pain

that is has a fondness for the body

for finding its way toward flesh

for tracing the edges of form

for shining forth through the eye

the hand

the heart

I cannot tell you how the light comes but that it does,

that it will

that it works its way into the deepest dark that enfolds you

though it may seem long ages in coming

or arrive in a shape you did not foresee

And so, may we this day turn ourselves toward it

May we lift our faces and let it find us

May we bend our bodies and follow the arc it makes

may we open and open more

and open still

to the blessed light that comes.

--How the Light Comes, Jan Richardson

*photos from Paris, France, April 2019

*these are some of the Paris street photos I took on holiday--Paris is so "much of a muchness", to quote good ol' Alice while she was exploring Wonderland, that it's not easy to absorb and capture all the beauty and splendor, no matter how many times you return. A big thank you to my friend Arnaud for taking us on a magical walk through the hidden parts of Paris, and for the lovely time we shared over drinks --after so many years of visiting and commenting on each other's blogs, meeting in person felt so much like meeting an old and familiar friend--i hope to meet again and, maybe someday to meet all my blog friends :)) p.s. click on the photos to enlarge them.