Friday, February 29, 2008

'Round Midnight



It’s just past the midnight hour and likewise bewitched I arise from a deep sleep to find that outside there still remains an overwhelming blanket of blackness that obscures the thin line of horizon between the sea and the sky. The ocean-going vessel that carries me is barreling headfirst into the last remnants of a late winter storm. The lambent light of moon and stars is shunt by this storm that rages across the sky - stargazing and navigating must wait for another evening. The night air is sonic with wind shear and the purl and roar of waves. The ship grinds and rattles as it careens through the storm and sleep is cut short – I rock and sway in my cabin with a delightful giddiness – in this roller coaster ride I am a child again. When I close my eyes and free my body to move with the motion of the water it is not difficult to imagine the nine-month passage in my mother’s womb. I rock once again in the boughs of her tender love.

Despite the winter war waged by the weather - the behemoth vessel cuts a firm and steady swath through the chop of water like an artist’s hand drawing a fine line across a crisp paper map – dissecting longitudes and latitudes as we travel away from the narrow isthmus of Central America toward the Florida peninsula. Tomorrow out of this murky darkness, Cuba will rise out of the ocean – inviting but untouchable. I will cling to the railing awash in sea-spray and watch for her rise out of the sea and ache to know her terrestrial beauty – so close, yet so far away.

Earlier this evening, from the flat light of dusk emerged a flotilla of gunmetal gray clouds racing across the horizon careening toward the equatorial waters of South America. Clouds are still flying south for the winter. Where are the equatorial breezes that will send them and spring sailing back? In Belize today I saw a fat restless scarlet tanager bouncing from tree to tree and was reminded of the promise of that not-so distant spring. I’ve read that spring travels 15 miles a day – I calculate when the tanager might finally arrive to the place on the map I call home and I decide its not soon enough. I too am restless for spring’s return. No matter where I travel in the world I remain always grounded in the landscape and geography of my home. Despite my tropical location tonight – I am very much aware that winter rages on where I live and I wrap this warm air around me like a sacred blanket and carry it back home in the hopes of finally freeing winter’s bitter grasp.


36 comments:

Daniel Chérouvrier said...

Very fine blog .
I do like your birds pics ( and the others too !).

Tom said...

The sky is on fire :O)
Like Deslilas I found your bird pictures to be excellent.. in flight shots are great. The faces are fun.

Enjoy Sky Watch..

Anonymous said...

Great photo.

SandyCarlson said...

That is stunning. Your blog is beautiful.

FO - 2 said...

Lovely picture and colours. :)

dot said...

Beautiful picture and post!

Daryl said...

Wonderful .. so very involving

Doug Taron said...

OK, the descritions of a cruise to the Caribbean that I posted on my blog last week suddenly look like dog meat. Nice post!

DeeMom said...

Super the picture and the post

chanpheng said...

This picture looks like a pastel drawing. I like the other pictures on your blog too, as well as your thoughts on climate change.

Lilli & Nevada said...

Beautiful

Unknown said...

Nice...

Anne said...

So very very beautiful picture. I anm dreaming and dreaming watching it...


Nice weekend to you, from Norway.

Mary said...

I've never been on a large ship until today :o) Good job, TR. Like a dream.

Leslie: said...

Beautiful image - both in the photo and the accompanying text. :D

Misty DawnS said...

This photo is absolutely spectacular! One of my favorites this week!

MojoMan said...

Who would have imagined that in the 21st Century we wouldn't be free to visit and share the lives of anyone in the world? When will cool heads and common sense ever prevail?

Luiz Santilli Jr said...

Fatastic photo!

I have too a fantastic shot in my blog!

LUIZ - FORM BRAZIL

Anonymous said...

Good Morning,

Having just returned from the Paw Park with Sophie and Gracie, I wanted to let you know that spring is not so far away. There are hundreds if not thousands of Robins that have migrated in to your hometown overnight. Spring is coming!!!!. Love and miss you, your oldest younger sister.

Kathryn and Ari said...

I envy your travels, particularly this time of year when I approach my snow threshold. Even still, I can really empathize with the rootedness in place that both haunts and placates us wherever we are. It's a powerful thing, this connection to landscape. How beautiful that you found it and can bring it with you wherever you go.

Andree said...

that photo? awesome! What a contrast, what colors! My SWF is here. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Wow, that is such an amazing photo! WOW

Anonymous said...

wow....I love you even more than before .....is that possible?

joey said...

Count me in for a return visit! An awesome blog, fabulous photos and lots to read to feed my soul. I see we have many similar interests. Thank you for visiting leaving kind footprints. I shall return ;)

Crayons said...

Hi TR
I like it when you get into a trance and write like you have done here. You carry the reader along and, by the end, she can't even remember where things started. This is just beautiful

Lana Gramlich said...

Beautiful photo. Remember that Spring's not SO far off. :)

Anonymous said...

There is a Romantic sensibility to this that immediately captured me. A perfect palette of prose.

Craver Vii said...

This weekend, we had a significant thaw in the Chicago area, but I think I'd still rather be in a place like Belize today. I like your bird pictures!

Dancin Fool said...

Hello! I really like this picture. The sky is beautiful and the total blackness below appears comforting, almost like sleep somehow! (I have been staring at it for a while and have really got into it!)

Excellent and very interesting blog. Bye for now!

Luiz Santilli Jr said...

Your SKY ia also fantastic!

Thanks for visiting, come back again.
My next posts will be written in Portuguese and English

Luiz

Marie Walden said...

T.R. - What gorgeous pictures and prose. I am excited to have found you. I followed most of your links as well. I've had a spectacular, though nonproductive, afternoon thanks to you!

T.R. - Please go back to my blog and check out my response to your comment on Gay Marriage. In that post, I was speaking with the voice of one of the many religious fundies that live in my town, not as myself. Thee and me are on the same page!

Angie said...

Hi,
A stunning photo and an extremely well written post.

Desert Rose said...

WOW ! Awesome blog and pics !

Thanks for sharing.Keep up the good work .

Take care .

Daryl said...

Thanks for stopping by and saying hi!

Kostas said...

Amazing the post, splendid photograph with marvellous colours that give prospect in the all picture.
Important the comment!

Ur-spo said...

lucky man to see such weather
I bet you have seen and photographed some brilliant thunderstorms.

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