To the Festival of Trees:
The photo below is a few years old now. I took it after a few days in the mountains alone and standing a bit above a clear large mountain river this tree across it clinging to life came into my view. And in that moment became a brother from where I was at in my own life at that same time..
"Observation on the River"
Your flawed elegance astounds me
Ramrod straight
As if proudly displaying your wounds
Scarred by time
battered by countless storms
Your soul precariously exposed
Eroded by what also sustain and nourishes
Yet possessing a Strength
I cannot fathom
Holding onto each moment
Until you are finally claimed to join
The Dance of the Endless Flow
It is Me
-Robb Kloss, written outside Ngamoko hut in the Ruahine range, Aotearoa ( New Zealand)
24 comments:
You captured the spirit Robb. Pefect.
watched a movie called 'this way of life' and thought of you. then they mentioned the ruahine's and i thought i really should tell you. a nz doco. you might enjoy it!
A wonderful poem Love it The line
"The Dance of the Endless Flow" is amazing. A very reflective piece of writing which must be good for the soul
Arohanui Marja
I'm in love with this tree. You've captured it so profoundly, with a sweet, raging soul. Your poem made me weep in the best possible way. Thank you, my brother, for so eloquently pointing us to a genuine life.
Aroha,
Ophelia
xo
Simply beautiful and perfectly said.
I once read that tattoos were initially created to cover scars. But, I thought, scars are the real evidence of a life lived fully. Who needs a tattoo if they can have a scar? I still say this now, even though I have a big scar on my throat from my last surgery.
I like the tree, and especially its scars.
I know that tree well, Robb. After the recent storms, I wonder whether it's still there, but I suspect it's more secure than it looks. I wonder how old it is? Certainly far older than either of us. A real survivor; a metaphor — and an inspiration.
Kia ora TB,
It was above a just lovely mountain river, and the promise of some great trout fishing lying not much further on. I have seen them myself. Thanks for tuning in here.
Cheers,
Robb
Kia ora baruk,
My beautiful wife surprised me one day a few months back with tickets to this very film here in Palmy. I wept thru almost the whole length. Even when a man chooses to not like others, or white civilized expectations, and do his own thing, AND find a woman willing to go along that path, he still gets shit! A brilliant film baruk, moments of all, and my tears reflected that . Are the Ruahines not just hauntingly beautiful, even from far away?
Aroha e hoa,
Robb
Kia ora Marja,
All I did was look below me at the mountain river flowing by, and the line later on, back at the hut with a few wee drams under my belt, the line came easily. You rock Marja! I would love you to meet my teen.
Aroha,
Robb
Kia ora Ophelia,
We just keep hammering away, what else can one do? Keep it rolling my Wild Well Considered Sister. That tree may or not still be there. I am going to take my oldest boy with me on a mission to find out very soon. Ophelia, I love your words, keep on writing. Kia kaha.
Aroha,
Robb
Kia ora KB,
Wow! How true. I have scars as well, some now well worn and sanded down upon me like a nice chunk of wood. Yet the scar upon my hip and thigh running down a ways, is still red and raw and from time to time I touch tenderly. The benefits from that intusion have been many. It is as much of a tattoo as I will ever need. I know you understand that KB, so I rave on! Scars are far superior to tattoos. Rave on! Kia kaha e hoa!
Aroha,
Robb
Kia ora Pete,
I am going to find out in a few weeks after a very busy work period mellows out. It is a very heavy valley, but a burden I am willing to carry.
Rangimarie,
Robb
It's beautiful, Robb, and so poignantly descriptive of the tree in the photo, and of the struggle embedded in the human condition. I love it.
It is YOU!!
Kia ora Lynda,
I recall that moment vividly. I was struggling with a few things, and so the days in the mountains alone really made me focus, and that tree across the river came so sharply into view and so vivid, as if speaking TO me. And not long after that a whio flew by, then back and landed on the river in front of me, not a care in the world. I spent a few days there, and a lot of time just above the river a bit and looking at that tree. It became a friend, a kindred soul I understood. Thanks for understanding. Ti hei mauri ora!
Aroha,
Robb
Kia ora Stella,
Indeed. You got it. Kia kaha.
Aroha,
Robb
Yes it is!..and I thought of you yesterday on the bushwalking exercise and how you related on a personal level to this tree that makes such a statement.I am definitely a rock/stone person. I LOVE ancient rocks! There were small rocks strewn along the path David and I walked, -ordinary looking,and quite inconsequential. It was only when I walked past one broken open, that I did a double-take at the bright desert colours within. My favourite colours, hidden.I could relate to that. City person, desert heart.Like you, I am feeling stronger also, and count my blessings that I can still escape not often enough)into the natural environments that I love.
Husband informed me that his father studied geologogy as part of his Engineering degree,and went on many field trips with Uni.I didn't know that. Something his Dad never mentioned. Love of geology hidden in an Engineering exterior I'd say!
Wonderful post Robb.
I share Pohanginapete's sentiments.
Yet one day that tree will die in the river. Not a bad death.
Well said Robb. We've all been there...connected to moment...to a place. And your words capture the spirit. Nice work!
'Ramrod straight'
nice muzzleloader reference...
I love that this poem was writen in context. It is good work!
Kia ora Pam,
That is wonderful to read you are feeling stronger and enjoying your time out in nature.I think one of the "gifts" I received in my pain filled years was an ability to "see" the micro world around me, the colours, the aromas, the sounds, the rocks, moss, lichen, epiphytes, all became larger and more apparent as I retreated into that world away from my pain. By walking slower we see more, but get there quicker. That might not make sense to young strong legs, but it does to me. So even I now feel better and stronger, I feel no need to ever walk faster than I did. I don't want to miss anything.
Thank you for thinking of me of your walk with David, and how amazing that you can still discover new things about each other. There is something very right about him revealing that to you as you are out in nature. Kia kaha Pam.
Aroha,
Robb
Kia ora Gustav,
But even in death it will flow with the river, perhaps providing a pool for trout with its prone bulk, or a place for the whio to rest. The river will claim the tree no doubt, but it will forever part of it, part of the cycle. I can accept that.
Aroha,
Robb
Kia ora LPH,
Yes, I feel like I am getting far better in the mountains at recognizing the real important moments. The ones I struggle with are out here. Glad you enjoyed.
Cheers,
Robb
Kia ora LC,
I was listening to a lot of Tom Russell at the time, still am.
Aroha,
Robb
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