the Witch Trees
under deadened skies
black firestroked oak branches
whirl in hollow light
cold silent bells
of lost winter temple
ring, ring, still ring
hollowed in heart,
leaden sun, black amber scar,
fingers wave against
the blackened throat
the monstrous heart
Labels: haiku, monochrome photography, photography, poem, tanka, winter
posted by Art Durkee at 11:05 PM
5 Comments:
Why I wonder do trees such as these evoke images of crazed people, witches, old men, crones and fearful monsters in my mind? Is it that my imagination gets carried away by the black and the white?
Lovely work, Art. Thanks.
These are beautiful phrases and morose photographs. Heavy metaphors to carry. Ironically, I posted a series of winter tanka verses a few days ago-- so I feel a strong connection to your work.
Thanks. You can tell what mood i was in yesterday, I suppose. LOL
E,
I think it's the traditional image of the "gnarled old crone," the archetype that we take for witches being as gnarled as old trees. The other things are brought in because they're all things to be feared, in the cultural imagination.
D-G,
Metaphors, yes. It's the wintermind mood settling in, I guess. The past few days have been heavily clouded, cold, and gloomy. It makes for some beautiful photography sometimes, but it's equally hard on my mood and temper.
Since the surgery this past summer, I have found myself even more susceptible to the weather than I used to be. Sometimes art-making is just self-defense.
I see you're working a lot with tanka lately. I liked the winter moon series. I do see the connection.
Lovely. Thank you. I'm so happy to have stumbled upon your blog.
Thanks, and welcome. Very nice to make your acquaintance. :)
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