Friday 24 September 2010

We Count The Days Until You Return.

Thoughts on how I am suspended by the temporary absence of my man. 
(Photos from my archives)

Now we are on the side of winter. The midpoint has been passed.


In the mornings I rise before light, the wind moaning through the house like an unhappy ghost in the silence. That silence that sinks to unknown depths just before dawn. In the distance the sea booms, I feel it under my feet as though in the night we have broken our moorings and slipped away into dark waters. I imagine the walls trembling with the weight of white water breaking on their steadfast sides. Our children sleep their deep slumber, dreaming of ships and narwhals, unfathomable dreams of briny blue.


All to soon, tentatively, the light creeps in, tapping at the window.
My mind returns to the day.

And all day the reeds tussle and toss in the bluster, the mountains loom out of the clouds, then fade into mists again, lost in the rains as the night draws in.

And the days whirl by.

The days whirl by.

The days whirl by...

20 comments:

Martin said...

".. I feel it under my feet as though in the night we have broken our moorings and slipped away into dark waters.."

Wonderfully woven description of that 'adrift' feeling, Ciara.

mimi charmante said...

Of all people, you are the one I turn to to make even the ugliest of weather seem cozy, romantic, and even appealing... how. do. you. do. it???
Wishing you warm sweaters, rubber boots, and lots of hot tea for the coming season. From the sounds of it, we are in for a doozy of a winter here in the pacific northwest!
Have a marvelous weekend my friend,
xx

kimberlytaylorimages.com

0rangey said...

Thank you so much for your writing and your spirit.

And that birds in flight picture, especially.

Stephanie V said...

Fantastic photo of the gulls. And your words are so evocative of lonely nights by the sea. I can feel the chill fog and smell the salt waves.

Sara said...

I feel suspended with you. Your words are poetry... your thoughts like dreams. The way you bring us into your very soul... thank you. xx

Ann Marie said...

love these photos! love that we are on the side of winter!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your continued energy! Love your blog! I added it to my blogroll so I can click on it for daily inspiration:)

rayfamily said...

Beautiful thoughts and so true! You're pictures are just lovely!

Snag Breac said...

Love that photo of the birds.

Jan said...

Gorgeous, atmospheric photos...

Rebecca S. said...

As someone else said, I feel suspended with you. May the days fly until he returns. There is a lovely misty quality to this, and it isn't just the photos. I loved the bit about the children's dreams of narwhals. Could this be the beginning of a book with text and photos? I wonder...

Sadhbh @ Where Wishes Come From said...

And you thought the birds had taken your words?? Not a bit. Beautiful post Ciara. Hopefully those birds will wing him home soon. S

yew tree nights said...

I have been stopping by here for a long time now, and meaning to say hello. I had to break the silence tonight, with this post. I love mist-covered loveliness of every gorgeous word of it. Thank you!

Jay said...

I'm coming home x...

Acornmoon said...

beautiful and heartfelt as always.

Elaine Prunty said...

ahh .....hope he is back by now....your self-portrait as seagulls whirling and suspending is just perfect. .

Gray said...

That is really lovely.

I love the change of the seasons- autumn is very dramatic.. but when the leaves have fallen it is as if you realise that you have a real emptyness, hallow, until the spring. That makes me so very sad. Just today I saw all the chesnuts had fallen in one great crash- really, all in one day. (Have you also go the 'Spannish moth'? Poor raveged chesnut trees.) I feel as if I have no more time to appriciate the seasons. Where did the summer go?

Gigi Thibodeau said...

Oh, this makes my heart ache. You make me remember why I love words so much.

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Such amazing photograph. They and your words capture the blueness of autumn so well.

Mise said...

Very cinematic writing, Ciara, and perfect photos to accompany it. There's a romantic and farseeing 16 year old inside you who never got defeated by the mundane detail that swamps the rest of us. I hope a jolly homecoming is planned.