acacia blossoms

acacia blossoms

Friday, April 24, 2009

last night and this morning


Last night was so quiet. The darkness speckled by millions of stars, yet so quiet I could hear the blood run in my own veins. No sounds of elephants browsing, ears flapping, rumbling as they move past the house; no predators calling in the distance or even close up. No mice in the kitchen or in the roof; no owls hooting to punctuate the dark. Where is everyone?


Sometimes its noise that keeps you awake. The persistent ticking of a clock, or a loved ones snoring.  But when its so quiet that all your ears can hear is the inner workings of your own system - it can also keep you awake.


The mind is full of mischief then. It gives you things to worry about. What if........? and what if..? toss and turn. Try and trick the self into thinking its asleep by adopting the pose and breathing deeply. As if someone had walked in the room and you wanted them to think the same. Can you fool yourself?


Apparently yes - because next I caught dawn stealing in wearing soft grey slippers. Ha - I was waiting for you! Beat off the mossie net and light the gas for coffee.

Get dressed hurridly - could only find one sock so that will have to do. Wash face and teeth; find shoes; pour coffee into go cups and out into the brand new day.


Light comes swiftly, tinting the world with pink and gold. Its good to be awake to catch this gift that comes free with a new day. Mist hovers in flat lines over the yellow grasses, moving all around us, fleeing the rising sun. Gold tipped clouds lead the way as fire and brimstone lifts its head between the distant palm trees.


Soft feathery pink grasses and silver grey sage bushes complement the rosy sky. We drive and drive into the back country looking for leopards and signs of lions.  Gnarled leadwood trees provide abstract shapes like a vast sculpture garden. Giraffe peer from behind bushes, termitaria, and distant trees; They are everywhere posing like super models, aloof and disdainful. Whoever heard of a giraffe migration? yet this is how it seems.



18 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful morning, excellently described. I could feel the early morning, autumn crispness in the air.

Rosaria Williams said...

"Giraffes posing as super models..." Every word draws us in, feelings, sights, sounds.... I don't get tired of this, I could read on and on, and want more.

Lori ann said...

Oh my Val, you've included everything but the smell! your words are such a gift, I love to read you.

Thank you for letting us have a peek into your world and imagination (the dawn descrip was brilliant, sheesh).

I never knew there were so many giraffes like that...oh, and such a beautiful photo, dreamlike...
Thank you♥
love,lori

Anonymous said...

beautiful

Kate said...

Fabulous. As always. Getting cooler here too.

Janelle said...

great writing val...evocative and you catch it exactly right..perfect. lots love xxx j

Neo said...

you do have a way with words, ditto what Rob said

Cheryl Cato said...

Great writing. I like the comment "so quiet I could hear the blood run in my own veins". It can be very quiet here; we are limited to coyotes, raccoons, opossums, and a little rat terrier that hears all & lets us know about the visitor in the yard. I love reading your descriptions they are so different from anything in my world. Thank you.
Oh, I tagged you for a meme of the moment and if you are so inclined to participate the information is at my blog.

Stacy Hackenberg said...

As always you paint a picture with your words. You are amazingly talented.

I've have an award for you on my blog if you'd care to visit.

Val said...

thanks for your beautiful and encouraging comments! its so great to get your feedback - and especially when its positive!!!

Rob - yes winter in the air - just when you guys are heading to the beach :-)

Lakeviewer - thanks - and they do look like models!

Lori - so many giraffe around at the moment.. oh and i forgot the smell - well wild sage and morning dew on sand - heady stuff! x

Janet - thanks x

Katherine - love this time of year - hope its happy with you?

Janelle - ah thanks! loved your latest lyrics. hope theres a new CD in the pipeline? you are so very talented x

Neo - thanks!

Lizzy - that desert quiet is addictive. You live in a beautiful part of the world too :-) Thanks for the meme - will get to it...

Val said...

True Blue - wow thanks for that award! and for visiting and leaving such a lovely comment :-) your blog is amazing!!

BTW - am on borrowed IT time at the moment so have been a bad reciprocal commenter but am following you all and will catch up as soon as i can! blog on everyone xxx

delphine said...

Hello from France! This is my first visit--what an amazing place you live in! I was immediately transported into your world by you words. I shall certainly be following you in future. thankyou!

Fire Byrd said...

Wonderful words as ever. It is a joy to read your descriptions of life where you are.
Elephants ears flapping conjours up such an image immediately around me, all I've got really is the dog snoring!
xx

Pseudo said...

Came from True Blue Texan - and she is right. You are an amazing writer and ti was wonderful to read that post while my own sun is rising out side my window.

Reya Mellicker said...

I love your blog, and even though I don't "know" you, I love you, too.

You've been through quite a few changes and revelations in recent months. My guess is that you've probably still got a lot of thoughts to process. It's as if the whole landscape shushed itself up in order to let you "digest."

Thank you!

Unknown said...

You live a charmed life and you paint it with words woven through with magic!

Val said...

Delphine - greetings to you and France!! thanks for visiting and your kind words. I am off to yours now.. love this global blogosphere :-)

Fire Byrd - dogs ears can flap loudly too no? :-)

Pseudo - thanks for visiting - wow Hawaii...

Reya - shew yes you could be right. my head def needs unjumbling!! was thinking of you so much yesterday :-) hugs to you and Jake :-)

Ab Van - not sure about the charmed bit but truly am fortunate to spend time in such amazing wild natural places. love it!!

thanks for commenting everyone xxx

Val said...

Delphine - greetings to you and France!! thanks for visiting and your kind words. I am off to yours now.. love this global blogosphere :-)

Fire Byrd - dogs ears can flap loudly too no? :-)

Pseudo - thanks for visiting - wow Hawaii...

Reya - shew yes you could be right. my head def needs unjumbling!! was thinking of you so much yesterday :-) hugs to you and Jake :-)

Ab Van - not sure about the charmed bit but truly am fortunate to spend time in such amazing wild natural places. love it!!

thanks for commenting everyone xxx