Once Upon A Dark Time …
…in a land of smiles, bad things happened. Children were broken into. Nothing said. Nothing done. And so the innocent grew, not up, but small. But this was not to be the end. In the darkness little helpers gathered spilling rich black into soft white sheets. Tailoring picture books to fill empty spaces. Telling truth that grew much taller than a world too big to fit. Until size no longer mattered and little souls were reawakened by the rhythms and rhymes of songs that carried them all the way home – ensuring they’d never be beaten again.
Footnote: This story (from 2009) reflects The Black Dog Project’s focus on the safety, well being and rights of children and young people – and the idea of making books and gifting them to young people in the community through sponsorship. Written long before the explosion of social media, the ‘Children were broken into. Things stolen.’ now also reflects the impact of Smartphones and social media on children and young people. Find this piece in Clunk & Jam book. Original story in handmade book, ‘Rock The Boat’, 2009. (Handwriting by Maggie).
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.
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)
(‘Boots the Clown. World’s Greatest Act’. Arrived out of isolation 2020. Pakenham Street, Fremantle).
World’s Greatest Act Story Part I.
Caught in a spin, under lights left on, the crowd piled high in competition and clutter. Until one, not so surprising day, an invisible curtain crept up. ‘At last’, the big top moaned. The crowd no longer applauded mindless acts. The performance was over.
Finally, in tune with the, ‘Going, going, gone’, the crowd rose to reunite through the hands of a clock ticking. Together again, they would perform the world’s greatest, most death defying act of all time …
Boots the Clown Series.
I am I . (Barbara Blackman from book, ‘Glass After Glass’)
I am I and no other. Not other has or ever can be this I. It came into me as a baby. Is the same I as in me now, a little girl, the same I that will be in me as I grow, as a grown-up, as an old old lady, and on beyond that. What happens to this I is the ME that other people can see, acting out all this life. So it will be all right whatever happens to ME because the inner secret I can never be changed or lost.
(Art by Charles Blackman , ‘Christabel and Her Image’ , 1966. Original in colour.)
Reposted from 5th May, 2014
After The Storm . (Mumford & Sons)
And after the storm, I run and run as the rains come. And I look up, I look up. On my knees and out of luck, I look up. Night has always pushed up day. You must know life to see decay. But I won’t rot, I won’t rot. Not this mind and not this heart, I won’t rot. And I took you by the hand. And we stood tall. And remembered our own land, what we stood for. And there will come a time, you’ll see, with no more tears. And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears. Get over your hill and see what you’ll find there. With grace in your heart, and flowers in your hair. And now I cling to what I knew. I saw exactly what was true. But oh no more. That’s why I hold with all I have. That’s why I hold.
Amelia Bloom – Home & Peace Maker.
