Illumination

All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow.

Leo Tolstoy

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Catch

On the beach one morning

I am wallowing in

darkness. It is

Vast and heavy

and threatens to swallow me-

until a golden retriever

runs up and rolls in it.

I laugh,

forgetting,

then stop to watch the sun rise

with her owner

in silence.

Moons and years pass by and are gone forever, but a beautiful moment shimmers through life a ray of light.” – Franz Grillparzer

Continuum

Light falls on the edges,

Dances on water.

illuminates the moon,

and makes the city shine.

It creates dark silhouettes,

and kisses crows’ wings

It casts warm shadows over everything.

I’m reading a book called Zen Camera, by David Ulrich. One of the early practices is about observing light, so this post is inspired by that.

Thank you for being here!

Living with Dragons

“… it is one thing to read about dragons and another to meet them."

Ursula K. Le Guin

January 21, 2023 - Miami Beach - Iggy making himself at home

The Dragons Move In

In the morning

Green dragons appeared

Under the canopy of palms

Absorbing sunshine and heat,

Nestling into the branches,

Adopting our trees as their home-

Shy roommates.

January 21, 2023 - Posing for the camera.

January 21, 2023. I came back from a sunrise yoga class on the beach to find an iguana - no two iguanas - resting in a palm tree next to the balcony of my apartment. One was bigger than the other; so I assumed it was a male, and the smaller one female. Iggy and Ivy. Ivy was much shyer than Iggy, climbing out of sight when I approached, so I couldn’t get a clear picture this morning.

They are amazing, like little dragons, with their long spiny backs and tails. Herbivores, I read. The flap under Iggy’s head looks like a folded scarf, his claws are so long and flexible, they look like fingers. When he moves, he curls his body and wraps his tail around it. Sleek little devil. His eyes are such a beautiful golden brown. Ivy is brighter green with smaller eyes and a smaller head, and less variation of color. I hope they stay around for a while. I love to watch them.

January 22, 2023 - Ivy branching out.

January 22, 2023. Today I got a picture of Ivy. She moved into a different palm tree, which was right outside my kitchen window, so I took her picture from inside to avoid scaring her off. The light was so bright, I had a hard time getting her in focus, but I managed at least this once.

I learned that Iguanas have a third eye on the top of their heads that connects to their pineal gland. (Facts About Iguanas: Information, Pictures & Video (activewild.com)) It doesn’t produce images, but they can detect light and motion with it, which explains why they know I’m coming even when it seems like they’re looking away from me.

January 23, 2023 - Together.

January 23, 2023. Ivy, (or another small iguana?) returned to the palm tree where Iggy has been staying. She leaves for part of the day, but he is always there - moving from place to place around the tree.

January 24, 2023 - Iguana climbing a tree in Marjory Stoneman Beach Park.

January 24, 2023. It’s funny how you start seeing something more often once you’ve turned your attention to it. I was walking in the park today and an iguana ran across the grass to a palm tree and climbed up at a run. He was fast and big, with a really long tail. I read they can shed part of their tails if necessary and then grow them back. So, if anything grabs him by the tail; he can make it fall off to get away.

He was a colorful beast, multiple shades of green, yellow, brown and orange. I wonder if they get more colorful as they get older; I didn’t see anything about that in my reading. He also looked pretty healthy and strong. I guess they can live up to 20 years in the wild.

January 24, 2023 - A third iguana, Ivan, arrived this morning,

When I came back to the apartment after walking through the park, there was a third iguana, in a different tree, resting there. This one was smaller than ivy, but more colorful. I’m calling him Ivan. He actually seems to be smiling in this picture and looking at me sideways with those sweet golden-brown eyes. I am in heaven. I love them hanging around the house, keeping wary company with me. I try not to check on them too often, in case I scare them away.

I’ve heard that iguanas are considered an invasive species in Florida, destroying and eating native vegetation and ruining landscapes. The state encourages people to get rid of them, either by hiring an extermination company or using a legal method of extermination themselves. I could never do it. These palm trees need trimming anyway.

January 24, 2023 - Iggy Stretching out, while eyeing me sideways.

Green dragon, wary,

in the palm tree next to me-

I will not slay you.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

“I do not care what comes after; I have seen the dragons on the wind of morning.”

Ursula K. Le Guin, The Farthest Shore

Existence

A building in my neighborhood draws me, 
A simple rectangular structure; 
White façade,  few adornments
Except a small central arc near its roof,
With a single word:
EXISTENCE.
From across the street, I stop and stare-
And wonder.
 
Alone on the block,
First floor windows tightly barred;
It looks empty and dark.
EXISTENCE, 
It reads.
I cross the street; look up and stare-
And wonder.
 
Some days shadows fall over its plain white face,
Clouds gather,
Darkness falls, 
But aside from an occasional “For Rent” sign;
It seems unchanged and unchanging.
“EXISTENCE,”
It says;
And I-
 
I Wonder