Afternoon sun shines on slate roofs. Front gardens sit neatly below small square windows, framed with frilly net curtains. There is no-one around. The quiet is disturbing but the dramatic view of a Rhondda Valley hill, rising up at the bottom end of the road, is breath-taking, as if it was just created, a universe being born.
I face the neat row of terraced houses, taking in every detail of the house where I was born. Imagine what it would feel like to open the little garden gate, to walk the short path to the front door, just as my mother did, starting her new life far from the comfort and security of her Irish home and family, but this was no refuge for her, creating painful memories that would blight her whole life.
The secrecy of net curtains. Watchers, waiting. Someone who still remembers. I cannot take the step towards the past, and yet, I capture this place of my beginning with my camera. It seems important somehow.
There is a gazebo at the end of the garden. It overlooks the estuary. When the tide is in, sea water pools around seaweed covered rocks. The sound is peaceful, meditative. I drink an early morning coffee, listen to the birds singing morning songs, watch a spider spin his fragile life between timber beams above my head. Even in the harshest of winters, the rise and fall of tides, sun-light on water, movement of sky, cloud, moon and stars, allows an awareness of nature behind the mask of perceived reality. I offer my words and pictures in celebration and gratitude to God, for allowing me a glimpse behind the mask.
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Bio: Teri Flynn was born in Wales of Welsh and Irish Parents. Educated in England, she moved to Co.Waterford, Ireland in 1997 where her Poetry has since appeared in “The Turning Tide” – an anthology of new writing from Co.Waterford. “Southward” The Journal of the Munster Literature Centre and “Imagine” The Tallow Writers Group quarterly review. Her poetry appears in “Sticky Orchard”, a group effort with Alan Garvey, Jim O’Donnell and Anthony O’Neill and grant assisted by Waterford County Council’s Arts Grant Scheme. “Listening To The Grass Grow” with Jim O’Donnell and Anthony O’Neill was published by Edward Power at Rectory press and most recently, in ‘Murmurings’, Remembering Anthony O’Neil, with Jim O’Donnell and Alan Garvey.
Her poem Queen Of The Sea was included in the Chesapeake Exhibition at RUH, Bath, 2011. Figurehead Carver, Andy Peters. Photographic display of Ship’s Figurehead Carvings by Richard Sibley – http://www.tallshipsgallery.com
A themed display of her oil paintings and poems entitled Cynefin, were on display in Waterford during The Imagine Festival in 2017. Cynefin-pronounced kuh-nev-in is a Welsh word meaning habitat or place. A place where a being feels it ought to live, where nature around you feels right and welcoming.
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16 Comments
Somewhere in the past beyond my ability to understand, reside events the results of which continue to inform who I am.
Places, houses, neighborhoods can change so radically, this was an extraordinary attempt of resurrection and closure at the same time. But then I acknowledge you are of the “brave” tribe. I can hardly imagine how this will filter into your imagining
Thank you j.h. your insight gives me the words I need to understand my feelings. Resurrection, closure, yes, both of these, it happened, and I accepted the present, a long story, but we all have a story. I am intrigued why you say I am of the “brave tribe”. I take it as a compliment, thank you.
Hi there dipumpkin, thanks for liking my post ‘Diary of a Blow-in’, I appreciate you taking the time to read it. The secrecy of net curtains for me simply meant, that although there seemed to be no-one around, there was the feeling of being watched, curious eyes, wondering who the approaching stranger was, and their apprehension at finding out if I was to knock at the door, and me, almost drawn in by this unspoken invitation to announce myself, and yet, the secrecy of net curtains allowing me the choice.
Your holistic blog is interesting, I look forward to reading your posts.
I wasn’t going by grammar. It sounded a bit heavy in the mouth, like marbles. I prefer my suggestion, but I had just wondered if you had an artistic reason that would trump the efficiency.
I do appreciate your comments, good criticism is always welcome. I also labour to find the right word and your suggestion has made me wonder, for in hindsight, I realise that my subconscious had the upper hand. Thankyou so much for your interest.
Well, since you seem receptive, I’m on Round Two of the series on the writing process. You’ll find them either in reverse chronology or under the Most Popular on the right. I was just trying to be helpful.
Somewhere in the past beyond my ability to understand, reside events the results of which continue to inform who I am.
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Thank you Tom, we are all searching, but I know you are one who responds to the heart, when it calls, no matter what.
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Places, houses, neighborhoods can change so radically, this was an extraordinary attempt of resurrection and closure at the same time. But then I acknowledge you are of the “brave” tribe. I can hardly imagine how this will filter into your imagining
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Thank you j.h. your insight gives me the words I need to understand my feelings. Resurrection, closure, yes, both of these, it happened, and I accepted the present, a long story, but we all have a story. I am intrigued why you say I am of the “brave tribe”. I take it as a compliment, thank you.
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Memories of generations, passed down through our genes, the longing to return to the centre, who we are, letting go, being here.
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niceley written…
😉
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Thank you very much.
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no, thank YOU 🙂
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What do you think of
“secretive net curtains”?
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Hi there dipumpkin, thanks for liking my post ‘Diary of a Blow-in’, I appreciate you taking the time to read it. The secrecy of net curtains for me simply meant, that although there seemed to be no-one around, there was the feeling of being watched, curious eyes, wondering who the approaching stranger was, and their apprehension at finding out if I was to knock at the door, and me, almost drawn in by this unspoken invitation to announce myself, and yet, the secrecy of net curtains allowing me the choice.
Your holistic blog is interesting, I look forward to reading your posts.
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Okay. So you prefer the secrecy to “secretive net curtains”?
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The “secretive net curtains” is also a more direct personification.
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Secrecy may not be correct grammatically, but it felt like the right word at the time. There are always alternatives. Which do you prefer?
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I wasn’t going by grammar. It sounded a bit heavy in the mouth, like marbles. I prefer my suggestion, but I had just wondered if you had an artistic reason that would trump the efficiency.
https://aholisticjourney.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/the-writing-process-save-spit-part-2/
I would not have spent the time if I didn’t care about every word.
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I do appreciate your comments, good criticism is always welcome. I also labour to find the right word and your suggestion has made me wonder, for in hindsight, I realise that my subconscious had the upper hand. Thankyou so much for your interest.
LikeLike
Well, since you seem receptive, I’m on Round Two of the series on the writing process. You’ll find them either in reverse chronology or under the Most Popular on the right. I was just trying to be helpful.
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