Tuesday 28 September 2010

Lemniscate


A poet has my heart.
He keeps it between the pages of a leather-bound book
pressed petal-like under paper.
Word-etched pages of his
clasp me in translucence
like breath between praying palms.

He gave me his heart too, this spring.
And I keep it in the paint box
as my twenty seventh colour,
an ink-blood dearness
that curtains over white page:
Aurora Borealis to my snow.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IN THE TURNING of this year from green to red, I have found a treasure. A treasure long dreamed of, that was hidden in the stories I imagined as a child, and in the woods of my young pondering, and in the margins just beyond the edges of my paintings.
Here in the umber days of autumn, I sit smiling, astounded and thankful at this wonderful heart harvest. How life's wheel turns!
Nature's red congregation joins with my heart in gleeing:

Haw berries red,

Rosehips red,

Beech leaves red,

Blackberries red,

Fly Agarics red as a fairytale,


And roses from a bride's bouquet... passed to me with a wink ;)


Yes! Love has come to my hearth and heart, and his dear name is Tom :)
He is indeed a poet! Let me show you some of his beautiful words. Here on this leaf-browning equinox, I'll balance the scales of the year with poetry and prose of his that speak so eloquently of Spring:






I cannot say in words how deeply his wordsmithing and his arrival have affected me. I am stunned and grinning and Happy Beyond Happy! And we look forward with delight to word and image weaving to add to the already bubbling Baba Yaga's cauldron of forest-sleeping, moor-trekking, shooting star-gazing, fireside-storytelling, music-making, home-building. With us in our little nest lives Macha the hound with a piece of the Other World in her left eye, who has rather won my heart too.



My September birthday this year was spent walking across the moors with my love to two rings of stones, edged by wild horses and windblown tussocks. These are the Grey Wethers, a rare double stone circle side by side. There we drank chai from a thermos and embraced the winds of autumn arriving across the moor.



And as the green of spring and the red of love mix in the paint tray of this wonderful landscape of my days, I wonder about those two circles: Are they magician's rings? Are they my new friend the number 8? Are they - the lemniscate or infinity symbol, for balance of forces?



I stand on this autumnal hill of my 31 years and breathe in deep the air of life and Unfolding Story in Dartmoor's mists and I breathe out a shout full to brimming with joy, and thanks, and wonder rekindled, and love.
And, smiling, I imagine a bird in my mind's eye, soaring high above this life-hill of mine, writing loops in the sky like this:


91 comments:

Valerianna said...

Beautiful words from Tom... I like the look of his laughing and the joy that bubbles from you both in the last photo. Happy for you that your sensitive heart is singing again. I look forward to reading and seeing what magic you will create together from my nest across the seas! And birthday harvest blessings!!

Snippety Giblets said...

Congratulations to you ! You look so beautiful and wise, and made for each other. I can't wait to see what wonders you will weave together :0)Love from all of us here, although we are depleted as my beloved is currently in mid air on his way to Atlanta for a week xxx

Arija said...

May love be all you wish of it
may laughter ring your days
love is a wondering minstrel
whose song fades oft away
let him but settle at your hearth
and there in comfort stay.

I wish you all the happiness you so richly deserve.

Velma Bolyard said...

it's what i thought. love in your thirties is like nothing you can imagine when a teen. congratulations. fine words, too. happy happy to you.

Ariel Harper Nave said...

Oh, Rima, I am so happy for you! You so deserve the delight that seeps through your words...autumn love is indeed the most poignant...who indeed knows where the time goes....Be well and stay joyous!
Cheers,
Ariel

Elderberry-Rob said...

Blessings for you both - and the magical hound sent to guard your home - wonderful stuff - I am wishing you happiness, adventure, magic and of course a new creative turn as with all those beautiful words, pictures must surely follow! xxx

jude said...

as it should be. all the best on your journey. never underestimate the value of a true traveling companion.

Anonymous said...

Such wonderful news and beautiful words from you both. Tom looks laughing and lovely and I think I'm equally partial to Macha's wild profile.

Worker Bee said...

I love the photo of you and Tom looking so happy. You both look like you are sharing a secret! Congrats and many happy days filled with that same joy!

A mermaid in the attic said...

Ah, what jewel bright tales and whispering brush strokes will be spun! Looking forward to seeing the magic you weave together.

Deb Lacativa said...

a world away, you story has warmed my day and reminded how my own loves journey began all those years ago. thank you.

Basht said...

YAY! This is wonderful news. I'm very happy for you my dear :)
hugs!

mythopolis said...

Your posts are always wonderful to read, view, think about. Enjoy this season of love...I hope it is long lasting!

Nita Van Zandt said...

Your new happiness brings great joy to my heart! Your specific connection of two contributes ripples of Light to the global web.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your new-found love! Tom's wordsmithing is very beautiful. I found myself reading The Falcon's Child more than once, just letting its poetry settle on my mind like a soft blanket. Both of you are incredibly creative. May your lives together be long and full of wonder!

Kathryn Dyche said...

Congratulations to you both in finding one another . . . your happiness resonates in this post, love it.

Shelley Noble said...

Hooray for Rima and Tom!!!

Your love breathes the vivid colors and shades of your luscious rich reds.

The world around you comes alive in ways only great loves can know.

May you always be so.

May it always be so.

Floridagirl said...

Happiness in a picture, I can see it even from way over here. And Macha, wise dog. Congratulations!

Acornmoon said...

Ahh Rima, I am grinning from ear to ear. My best wishes to you and yours. Tom's words are beautiful indeed and as I am a granny now and allowed to say whatever I please I think you have both made quite a catch.

Pam said...

rima, you are so beautiful...
everything you show us is wonderful and the feeling i get in seeing, reading, is beyond words... i only can explain it in sighs. this is magical, and you join your worlds with us, and that's beautiful. in a few moments having your moments in second plane i can forget all my problems. thanks for being the artist you are, and remembering me the world is wonderful, and the nature is god. congrats. pam, from brasil.

Kirsi Halla-Seppälä said...

♥ ♥ ♥

Unknown said...

Please, may I have the rest of the story? 'The Falcon's Child' is lovely! Such beautiful words and pictures in my head!

So happy for both of you cuties!

...and Macha...what wisdom in that blue eye!

Amber said...

Happy birthday to you! I'm so happy for you, your bliss is loud and clear in your words. Where you live, the places you share and your words never fail to inspire.

Joan Tucker said...

Rima, ah yes the cycles of love and life. Your joy is added to the cauldron and we crones stir it up and let the aroma spread through the lands.Love is indeed in the air.

Tonia said...

I'm so happy for you both! He is indeed a very talented wordsmith and weaver of language, as indeed are you!

Gilli said...

What a beautiful and happy couple. What beautiful art, pictures and words. What a beautiful dog, with the otherworld in her eye. And the cycle, like the stones, goes round and round.

Charlotte said...

So pleased at how happy you sound, the late found love is the one that lasts, blessings on you both.

Lois Hughes said...

Rima, I am so taken with your work and your words. They are moving, interesting and wonderful. Blessings on you and the newfound love in your life.

Stewart J said...

Have missed your postings, its been a while, now we know, all the very best to you both

Gwen Buchanan said...

Happiness overflowing... I love it!!!
... my Best!

summertime dreams said...

Fantastic words. With them, your love paints brilliant scenes and real, vivid characters.
I wish you both many happy seasons together.

Lrc said...

So happy that love has come to you...and it is good to see what you have been up to and to see Tom's poetry. I hope this is the beginning of an infinity loop of happiness,creation,and love.

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Oh Rima.
This makes me so happy.
I fell in love in the Autumn, too.

Anne said...

Beautiful....:)

Hayden said...

aaah, wonderful, wonderful. The world is filled with wonder, and you two are creating words and objects and paintings of wonder .... It makes me smile!

Kari Lønning said...

Rima, It's so fun to hear you bubble. I look forward to seeing what your two creative energies will produce.

ezrablu said...

The trees and rocks and the wild birds and me are very happy for you :o)

Penny said...

Be blest, be happy
and may all you wish for come sliding through the door.
Autumn is the best time to fall in love.

Lindsey said...

Excellent news love! You look cute together :) And i'm happy to hear you happy x

Anonymous said...

You look beautiful together, and long may your talents - images and prose and poetry - mesh and meld. Happy happy days from another virgo. ♥

Cathy Cullis said...

So heartening to know.... one creative traveller can find another and their hearts are stronger for it....x

Anonymous said...

Your happiness seems to be brimming over & thru your words. May you both be blessed with lasting love & true friendship.
The Wild Breath ~ it is so right, for here in Australia the last few days have been truly Spring like. What an amazing gift Tom has for words....I also would love to know more of tale of The Falcon's Child. from Jenny McH

Half-heard in the Stillness said...

Oh Rima! I was so happy to see your words in my in-box, I was hoping and hoping that you were well and just busy, to have been away so long.
My smile got wider and my heart lighter as I read on....

So SO happy for you dear Rima! You are such a beautiful person and you write so full of joy. How wonderful that two such magically talented people have found each other to complete the circle.

Many Blessings
Jane x

Anonymous said...

Dear Rima, I wondered what kept you away from us for so long – and then heartened to find it such a worthy reason! Tom's poetry is moving and fits so right to you. Many, many blessings in your happiness.

rossichka said...

Your post is like a song, sung out of love, with love, for Love... Be happy together, dear Rima, weaving words, images and your destinies! Your voice is different now - full of joy, delight, excitement and the precentiment of something New that is waiting impatiently everywhere around to happen!xx

Tiffany D. Davidson said...

Beautiful post, beautiful red love, beautiful realm we are existing in right now, aye? Love & light your way, and Macha too!! ;]

April said...

What a Beautiful Post! I am sitting here, grinning as Big as a Cheshire Cat over your Joy!

Auguste said...

Oh Rima, you give me so much hope! How elated I feel from your tales and your happiness! So I can only wish for you two some more love to come :)

Griffin said...

I say, jolly good show! Carry on number one!!

An artist and a poet are a natural pairing. The one uses images for poems and the other uses words for 'em. As a poet and a storyteller, I applaud your choice... biased, moi?!

And in this sleep-season when the plants are settling themselves for a snooze over winter, it's wonderful to hear that a small plant has sprouted up in you. May all your love live long...and Baba Yaga keep her mortar and pestle from flying too close!!

A. K. Francis said...

Thank you for sharing your world, and the color red, and your heart's delight. This post made me smile, and reminded me again of that Other World in ours. You're beautiful, Rima... and I add mine to all the rest, best wishes to you, for love and happiness and an infinity of infinities. From my hopeful heart...

doro said...

I love Your blog, awesome pics, stories, masterpieces!

www.joyforever.co.uk said...

Dear Rima,How wondeful that you have found love and with such a talented and sensitive man! I have enjoyed following your blog for a while now and wondered what had happened to make you settle in a house! I guess the relationship ended.Enjoy every minute of your new love,the thirties are good years take it from a 60 yearold who loves life and feels just as romantic and in love with my husband who is 12 years my junior.We celebrating our 3rd Wedding anniversary on Wednesday bur we have been together about 20 yeqrs now. Your work and blog is always inspiring,LOL Angela Bell

Liz Reilly said...

Happy belated birthday and congratulations on your new love! Your happiness really brims over in this post. Best of luck to you, Tom, and pretty Macha!

yew tree nights said...

Big congratulations to you, Rima! Beautiful poetry, a beautiful hound, and a beautiful man... seems a very happy life indeed! Good for you, and my best belated birthday wishes to you.

Sheila said...

Wonderful news, so happy for you, Rima :-)

Red (aka Puddleduck!) said...

Wow, I drop in here from time to time and adore your blog!
I too am grinning from ear to ear as your description of falling in love reminds me of meeting and falling in love with my husband! You sound so happy and and excited and at peace and it seems this is truly a match made in the heavens! Congratulations... and joy to you both... Sandi

LittleInsect said...

with Tom's words, and your pictures, you can show us so much that is beautiful. I wish you both happiness

Rita Piano said...

...Oh Rima I am so happy you visited my blog! Thank you so much for following. I would have liked to leave some word and my best compliments for your wonderful work I absolutely love months ago but I was and am so ashamed of my bad English §:( .....
I send you all my admiration and a big big hug and my best wishes for endless joy, happiness and for everything you may desire!
:)))))))Rita

Kadeeae said...

What joyous news! =)

And what lovely poetry . . .

Heather said...

Congratulations and best wishes to you and Tom on finding eachother. His writings are as beautiful as your paintings and combined they will be doubly beautiful. I wish you both a future bright with love and inspiration.

Marina Terauds said...

The magic happened <3

CIELO said...

I'm so very happy (and thrilled) for you! Didn't I told (on that post out of your 'sadness' back then) that love would find its way back to you? Ah yes, reading that sad sad post, I just knew...

I'm so happy for you!

Cielo

Lisa said...

Hello angel of all angels – Thank you kindly for removing the photograph.

I was captured in this post by your diverting smiling face, which does so warm my heart. The sweet specialness, mysticism and powerfulness that shrouds you, makes you in my eyes ‘one in a million.’

The passing of souls between the lovely and talented Tom and yourself is surely an act of the purest self-love. It is to be…

mermaiden said...

You've painted words the color of burgeoning love and all possibilities of past and present.
Such a gift.

Rusted Wings said...

oh what a perfect tapestry of the colors of LoVe you are both weaving, with words that blend into perfect harmony and blissful beauty....and "may you stay forever young" as you both glow in this photo!!

Unknown said...

Just a quick 'hello' and thank you to you all for your blessings, delight and words of kindness! Since Rima and I first appeared together in the much-missed Journal of Mythic Arts, a few years ago and several centuries now, I've watched her blogging community (you) with wonder and joy. She shares wonderful things with you and you share wonderful things with her! Fantastic! I'm delighted and honoured to be part of your blessings!

For those of you who were tickled or brushed by my words in the excerpts here, there's more at my Coyopa site: www.coyopa.net

Thank you all again! Here on Dartmoor, it's falling-acorn time and the glory of Autumn. As this much-loved companion & I walk into the saddle of the year (with Macha close-by or chasing ghosts in the bracken), I can only say: watch for the folk-tales! We're cooking a meal of fine, fine things for you in our dreaming hut...

(And happy National Poetry Day too. Here's a link to one of my favourites: Love After Love by Derek Walcott.)

suz said...

I've been hoping to read words like this from you...I'm so happy for you. You have found a kindred spirit.

mythopolis said...

Rima, first of all, how do you keep up with all your wonderful fans? I think you are wonderful, and I am happy about your love. I enjoy every post. But you never make mention of the larger world around you...and around me, too. (That is a big circle we have yet to draw) Is it your strategy to just live your life in a kind of privacy and let all this other stuff go by? I am not laying out a judgement here. Because, while once an activist, I am now a reclusive os sorts, and wanting mostly to be left alone. Your world is so captivating. But, what do you think about all the other crap going down? I would so love to get your perspective of the world predicament. I think you have a power you have yet to use. I think that same question is in Macha's glance. I have a dog. I know that look.

Vikki said...

Okay I should be grown up and maybe write some poetry of my own but no instead I'm going to do this WOOOOOOOOO!!! Rima I am so pleased that someone special has at last found you (and that they come with dog), wishing you and Tom a thousand drops of happiness for the future, I am so pleased thanks for letting us know. Take care both, Vikki x

Anna Emilia said...

Very beautiful dear Rima, your words and images. And as I wrote you back in my blog, I have enjoyed your pictures through Orla Wren since some time ago already.

Very happy that you visited my small weather diary and gave me greetings from Dartmoor. Greetings back to you and many cups of tea.

Have a good weekend, red and purple.

nina said...

i can't tell you how happy this makes me to read, tonight. sending you much love and an enormous hug - xo

Anonymous said...

I am so glad for you Rima.You look so increably happy in your photo together. A wordsmith indeed
have fallen for his golden words can we find more anywhere on the internet. Two very talented people together...it is as it should be.
Take care,
Alison.

Lisa said...

Coming here feels like taking a secret journey to a very special place. thank you xx

fiddlestixstudios said...

Congratulations,Rima!I have ever~so~ loved reading your blog for many,many months now.It's always full to the brim with inspiration and lovely thoughts!
~Mandy :-)

Amanda said...

Macha looks like a thoughtful soul. May love continue to flow through your veins warm, red and throbbing. The kind of love that forges the world from gold and leaves you breathless. Blessings!

herhimnbryn said...

Love comes to find you when you least expect it....
I am happy for you lady R.

Cat (darklingwoods) said...

Joy Joy Joy!

Your post made my heart sing dear Rima!

(and your dog is like someone I know from a dream!)

Cheers!

Cat

erin gergen halls said...

love came to me in the autumn, as well...10 years ago. no better time than when the winds begin to blow colder, and leaves falling turn to snow falling, and the hearth is set for two to bask in its glow. enjoy these moments by that fire. hold the embers in your hearts...

Owen said...

Hi Rima,
I can't tell you how pleased I was to see you had visited the other day ! I've been travelling and thus out and about less in the bloglands, but your page and artwork are in a realm of their own, just miles and miles above and beyond the vast majority of anything happening that I know of, it is a rare privilege to be able to see your simply stunning drawings here... and read these glimpses into your mind. Evidently you are riding a cloud of happiness at present, I wish you an abundance of joys ! Be well...

Ulla said...

Rima my sweet...
Its been too long since I have visited your magical world. And here I find you in love, loving and loved!
Toms words seem a perfect match to your painterly musings- filled with hope, life and otherworldly visions.
Blessings to both of you,
Ulla

Aleks said...

Happy for you Rima,congratulations on everything! Let the birds sing for a long,long time! :O)
Aleksandra

ready to pretend said...

The most wonderful thing of grown up love is the nesting and comfort of sharing you space. The journey's and journerings are still there by whom you bring in and the space between two hearts is vast and tiny.
I speak from the knowledge of 33 years with the same man. The nest we built anchors and holds us to our 3 children all adults and now in our fifties we plan to spread our wings and travel together away.

i wish you from Canada , love loyality, and strength.
janet of Ready To Pretend

mycuriousteaparty said...

I've just got home from walking along the river, cold, no light peeking though the darkness, autumn is truely with us, so feeling a little damp and chilly on my return, I make porrdige and settle down to take a peek into a couple of blogs that I have neglected....

Needless to say that has been a big mistake...

What news I have missed... What joy unfolds... A bright light is shining from this post it is of two young people in love.. The joy in your smiles could tempt the darkest star to put back on it's most sparkly, brightest coat for all to see...

Congratulations to you beautiful Rima and to the beautiful Tom... I know it's an old fashioned thing to say but... 'My heart overfloweth' actually it's nearly bursting with joy for you both...

I am so thrilled that two wonderful souls have found each other. What were the chances.... Millions to one..

Congratulations...You two have won the jackpot... Like I did, a long, long time ago......

Hurrah!!

My love to you both.

~ Julie

laoi gaul~williams said...

i am finally catching up with my bloggers and here i am finding such joy in your joy :)

what wonderful words
xoxoxox

Jess said...

Hi Rima, it's been a while since I've been out blog visiting but what joy I found here at yours discovering you have a new found love! A perfect combination of inspired words between you, wow! What explosions of creativity we're going to have now! xx

Carolee said...

It's been far too long since I've visited here, and now that I have, I'm just delighted for you (and for your Tom too!)

Wishing you both a future of enchantment, adventure, and much love...

Blessings,
~ Carolee
PS - can't wait to see what kind of collaboration two such talented people come up with!

sandy said...

What a great post, congrats on it all.

Morna Crites-Moore said...

The joy spills beyond the edges of the photo ... so happy.

Anonymous said...

Very belated but heartfelt congratulations on your new-found love, which you sing about so beautifully. Blessings on you both.

Vicki said...

A little late to the congratulatory party! Tom's poetry is brilliant and your smiling faces tell the story. Love the photos of the red things of autumn and the moors! Enchanting!

Isabel said...

It is always such a delight to visit your world, Rima :))
I just posted a link on my facebook about your work...I did it in Portuguese to introduce you to a new audience....which I am sure will love and admire your art and philosophy of life like I do, my friend.
it is always so beautiful here.
Inspiring!

You always leave me with a smile :)))