Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Blue Now

Blue, blue and more blue. . . . The north seems blue in December when the snows have arrived - the skies over my head on clear days (there are one or two), the wide fields in the Lanark Highlands, the granite outcroppings and hollows, the deep shadows along the hedgerow at the bottom of the garden and stretched out across the countryside at dusk. Where does all this blue come from, when the world has been grey and brown for several weeks?

I often think that the Old Wild Mother (Earth) must be using every scrap of energy she possesses to compensate for the greyness of our short northern days. Every single shade of blue in the colour palette was on display yesterday from the palest pastel to sparkling indigos of such depth and intensity that they were almost black. Great trees, small shrubs, weeds and old rail fences were covered with fine powdery snow, and in heart of every single snowflake was a deep rich blue crying out for notice.

I always enjoy poking about in snow crowned hedgerows, but of the myriad transformations wrought by winter in the countryside, the image in the second photo is a particular favourite. The old roll of barbed wire rests in my neighbour's field, and it has been there for years, abandoned, twisted, rusted, forlorn and in the general scheme of things scorned and ignored - the wire was designed to be of use, and I always think it looks rather sad on its slope.

Yesterday, winter and her paint box of vibrant blues turned the old roll of wire into an al fresco work of art of astonishing complexity, and almost everyone who drove by stopped to look at the creation.

8 comments:

Steven Crisp said...

Wonderful haiku. Ah, the impermanence of it all.

Endment said...

I tried to change to beta blogger but there continues to be some sort of glitch ---

Hope your blue winter is soon filled with music, sparkle and joy!

Val said...

Dont know what else to say but thank you! All other words are inadequate. Thank you for your eye and your camera too.

Endment said...

Sightless we walk among miracles - thank you for showing me where to look

Rowan said...

What wonderful photographs these are, it lifts the spirits just to see that fabulous vibrant blue of the sky - how fortunate you are to have this on your doorstep.

Andromeda Jazmon said...

I just found you today from endment. What a beautiful post! I love your photos and your words on blue and nature's colors. I am going to bloglines you!

Anonymous said...

Snow makes everything so bright. Even walking in our woods at night is easier when there is snow. That blue is magnificent. Thank you for reminding me to look for magic on my path today.

fuzzypeach said...

Beautiful!