Stories

April 13, 2022 - Hope In Cave

 

Art by Philip Guston (Original in Colour).  Story from The Red Hand Files by Nick Cave.

Following the last few years I’m feeling empty and more cynical than ever. I’m losing faith in other people, and I’m scared to pass these feelings to my little son. Do you still believe in Us (human beings)?

Dear Valerio,

You are right to be worried about your growing feelings of cynicism and you need to take action to protect yourself and those around you, especially your child. Cynicism is not a neutral position — and although it asks almost nothing of us, it is highly infectious and unbelievably destructive. In my view, it is the most common and easy of evils.

I know this because much of my early life was spent holding the world and the people in it in contempt. It was a position both seductive and indulgent. The truth is, I was young and had no idea what was coming down the line. I lacked the knowledge, the foresight, the self-awareness. I just didn’t know. It took a devastation to teach me the preciousness of life and the essential goodness of people. It took a devastation to reveal the precariousness of the world, of its very soul, to understand that it was crying out for help. It took a devastation to understand the idea of mortal value, and it took a devastation to find hope.

Unlike cynicism, hopefulness is hard-earned, makes demands upon us, and can often feel like the most indefensible and lonely place on Earth. Hopefulness is not a neutral position either. It is adversarial. It is the warrior emotion that can lay waste to cynicism. Each redemptive or loving act, as small as you like, Valerio, such as reading to your little boy, or showing him a thing you love, or singing him a song, or putting on his shoes, keeps the devil down in the hole. It says the world and its inhabitants have value and are worth defending. It says the world is worth believing in. In time, we come to find that it is so.

Love, Nick

April 11, 2022 - World Won’t Wait

 

world won't wait tree house

 

World Won’t Wait .

He felt so burdened by the despicable acts of others.  A cutting despair at not being able to get there on time to save the suffering souls, the ice from melting, trees from falling down around the corner.

Lost in the shadow of shame, cast by human kind, knowing all too well the dread awful things that come to the weak, the marginalised, the strong – and those who resist.

He carried this burden from morning into night, until one day he woke to a different tune.  In the tune he caught himself feeling his own sadness, borne from the quest to save all that felt.

Cast in his own time, he could feel every aching inch of his broken self.  The closeness to his own end.  Where he surrendered to the grueling battle.  Stopped in time to mend.

 

world won't wait little boat

 

References:  ‘Hope’ painting by George Frederic Watts, 1886.  With just one remaining in her lyre – she played on.  Little boat reference, the movie, ‘Where the Wild Things Are’, 2009.  Original childrens picture book by Maurice Sendak, 1963.   Find in Clunk & Jam book.

See ‘Strength In Wild Imagination’.   Both in Clunk & Jam book)

October 29, 2021 - Robin Small – Wearing The Hurts

 

robin small arrows

 

‘Robin Small wandered wide in avoidance of – all things hard to touch.’

(Reposted from 9.10.2018)

Footnote:  The initial thread of Robin’s story ‘avoidance of all things hard to touch’, might elude to the trouble he has getting close, or being close with others.  Touching – or being touched.  Feeling the pain of loss or disappointment.  His avoidance of feeling things at all?  Maybe Robin Small finds it difficult to connect with things deep within himself?   But maybe he’s also contemplating taking a small step towards trusting again – taking a risk?

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July 23, 2021 - You Will Find Relief

 

 

Song I made up to stop myself from having a panic attack just now.  Listen on SpotifyField Medic

 

 

April 5, 2020 - Today Over Tomorrow

 

Stormie Mills Clown

 

(Art & words kindly from, Stormie Mills.  Instagram @stormiemills.  Original in colour).

‘A tra poco’ lets take a short break, from destroying our planet, listen to those that will inherit it, learn from the indigenous cultures of the past and see the future in a better way, let’s do more, let’s act, let’s ask those that are in ‘power’ to act on our behalf, repeatedly, or let’s change them out for those that will, let’s stop this circus of stupidity that values today over tomorrow.

October 31, 2019 - The New B.r.a.v.e.

 

 

The New Brave .

If it is brave to be tough – is it not also brave to show sensitivity?  

If it is brave to fight in anger – is it not also  brave to not fight the sadness?  

If it is brave to get on with it – is it not also brave to sit still in it?    

If it is brave to confront something – is it not also brave to choose to retreat?  

If it is brave to hold emotion back and in – is it not also brave to feel it?   If it is brave to be in the spotlight – is it not also brave to be alone?    

 

Pictured book page from Clunk & Jam.  Pic from The Concise Oxford Dictionary and ‘Mary Poppins’ book.