The ruminations of an artist on art & life...art quilts, beading, knitting, drawing, painting, printmaking, bookmaking are all my passions, I love to explore creating....

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

WATER week

WATER WEEK : I worked for over 20 years on the ocean on commercial fishing boats in Alaska; one does not spend that much time on the sea without developing a very healthy respect for the power of the oceans and water. I have been in storms at sea where the waves were towering over our 65 foot boat, and I feared for our survival. I learned to think of the ocean as a living being which we must treat with proper respect in order to survive our travels upon her. I have great concern and care for our Earth's oceans and the way we are currently mistreating them; for we "will not survive a dieing sea." For me, water week is all about my long relationship with salt water and the sea....

I like the concept of Soul Coaching : Day 9

Going to the Source of Meaning: " You cannot always choose the circumstances of your life, but you can choose the meaning that you give those events."

I have never thought about the various events in my life quite this way. For some reason, this notion made me think of this poem by one of my favorite poets--Mary Oliver.

The Summer Day

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean--
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down--
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

Today's Quote:
"Life is now in session. Are you present?" --B. Copeland

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mary Oliver!!!! hugs to you~ she is one of my favorites. You chose a perfect poem, too.

RE: the ocean "I learned to think of the ocean as a living being which we must treat with proper respect" I love that! I wish I wish we were all that deeply moved. The world would be a different place.
Peace~
Dawn

Unknown said...

The picture toady so reflect how water week is feeling. Really stormy. But also the knowing that it always calms down again.

Oh this precious life! Thank you for the beautiful poem.

Genie Sea said...

What an exhilarating photo! And it totally compliments your post! :)

Jamie Ridler said...

That's amazing you spent that time with the ocean. You must ahve gotten to know her well.

I'm afraid of deep water. It took all my nerve to go whale watching several years ago. And I understood with great intensity the phrase, "there but by the grace of God go I." The power of the ocean is awe-inspiring.

Liz in Kansas said...

A poem to really make me think.
And I love that photo of the wave! Did you take it? Really cool!

gma said...

What hard work that must be on a commercial fishing boat! Not to mention the fear/respect for the ocean.
Mary Oliver is awesome.

Nadya said...

One summer I washed about 1000 dishes in a fishing camp on the Dillingham River in Alaska - it was such a lovely, tame adventure - just thinking of Alaska makes me smile!
I've lived by the ocean, but not spent much time ON her - thank you for sharing a glimpse!