Tag: holidays

Homesick on Holiday

Hiding unobserved within.
Snug, unknown, silent.
Only to pounce unexpected in a moment of quiet beauty.
How is homesickness even a thing?
But there it was.

After all this time of longing to be away, to go on adventure, to experience else but the homely walks through rolling fields. I think lock-down has a lot to answer for. Perception of space, movement, away-ness, thereness, here-ness, place and space have changed. Home (if you were lucky. There are other stories as well.) became saver evermore and the outside stranger, disorientating. Adventures too much movement.

and yet …

Wordless Poetry

There should be words
Rushing out
Carrying with them
The light, smells, sounds of a summer
By the sea
You should be able to hear the echoes

Of an eagle cry, a dolphin splash
You should be able to see a seal
Head popping up in curiosity next to my kayak
And smoke rising
Steaming sand at low tide
Through my words

Yet they are empty
I can’t reach
Metaphors swirl
Wordlessly
Pictureless
Soundlessly
In empty space

I should draw the colours of sunsets
Thousands of diamond sparkles on top of waves
Silky water taken with long exposure shots
Dramatic rocks mirroring in retreating tide
Is what my words should draw
Yet
The paint dried in

Outer Hebrides: Go with the flow

Again this one does not quite fit yet.

drying wet-suits and a grill in the foreground looking over an ocean bay

Discarded wet suits
Drying in the breeze
A sad looking bag of charcoal
Crunched up
Holding the potential for one more BBQ

But not here
Not now
Not on this holiday
ANYMORE

Sadness creeps up
The simple life
Of our ever-so-slightly moving abode
Will soon be packed away
For another summer

August has just begun
But for us the summer is over
100s of emails looming
I have 48 hours leeway
And mentally push
Against the tidal amplitude of work-life

I love my work
But the constant pressure
Like currents in the sea
I have rowed against
Had become too much

I hope my learning
Will last and like my kayak
I will only put the paddle into the water to steer into the right direction
Occasionally
And not dispense all my energy rowing against the swell

I won’t fight
Against the tide
Anymore


Outer Hebrides

The last two weeks were spend camping in the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. Whilst kayaking and walking there were many moments for reflections and insights, I am going to share in poetry and blog form. I am also really excited to share some of my experiments with you. Working with the environment we were in, I created a ‘Washed Away’ mini-series around themes that follow abuse, such as shame, and fear. And another one focusing on taking a closer look. Anyhow, I hope you enjoy the images and sounds, and laugh, cry and think with me as usual.

view from my kayak

Summertime

Hot wind wipes like invisible fire across burnt grass
The brittle stalks rustle underneath my itchy soles
Dry lips burst in anticipation of a cold drink
I squint against the brightness there is nowhere to hide
Except for the lizards playing peekaboo in the rockery
Lazy days stretch in front of me as I tangle my feet in clear water

It’s summer