In the Highest Field

Seed Heads

Snow Capped Seed Heads

I think continually of those who were truly great
Who from the womb,
Remembered the soul’s history
Through corridors of light
where the hours are suns,
Endless singing
Whose lovely ambition
Was that their lips
still touched with fire
Should tell the spirit
Clothed from head to foot in song
and who hoarded from the spring branches.

The desires falling
across their bodies like blossoms.
What is precious is never to forget
The delight of the blood
drawn from ageless springs
Breaking through rocks
in words before our earth;
Never to deny pleasure
in the simple morning light,
Not its grave evening demand for love;
Never to allow gradually
the traffic to smother
With noise and fog the flowering of the spirit.

Near the snow, near the sun,
in the highest field
See how those names are feted
by the wavering grass,
And whispers of wind in the listening sky;
The names of those
who in their lives fought for life,
Who wore at their hearts the fire’s centre
Born of the sun, they traveled
a short while towards the sun
And left the vivid air
Signed with their honor.

Sir Stephen Spender

About Bo Mackison

I'm a photographer, book-artist, traveler, naturalist, and creator of the Contemplative Creatives Journey, An Online Workshop and Community and Desert Wisdom Cards and Workshops. Though often not well known, I find the desert a welcoming place - a healing space. Its mysteries and gifts transformed me several years ago. Since that first encounter, I return again and again to fill my well in what most people think of as a desolate region. I'd love to share my desert discoveries and wisdom with you. Please subscribe to receive my five part mini email course The Gifts of the Desert. It's my gift to you.

Comments

  1. Wonderful image. Love the poem that accompanies. Perfect!

  2. Awesome poem. The letter S did a good job.

    The flower heads seem to be marching, marching, marching – perhaps to shibboleth (you need to be a Fire Sign Theatre fan). 🙂

  3. Olivier Jules says

    lovely capture

  4. Beautiful poem, never read it before, thanks for posting it with the lovely pic:)

  5. this might be my favorite winter picture yet 🙂

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