Blind Orchid

~ Mia Pharaoh

Photographer — Katie Eleanor

 

Blind Orchid
100 Words

I am forever young and forever old, from everywhere and from nowhere, memories muddled and memories clear: so many and yet all too few. Yesterday, indiscernible from today or tomorrow, for where there is no time, there is no matter. I am akin to some wild thing that comes into bloom but once a year, hidden deep within the Woods of the Wounded Sparrow. The cruel irony, partners: decay and decadence, dance in frenzied quickstep to Rimsky-Korsakov’s, “Flight of the Bumblebee”, while onlookers: the moon and stars, rule over my endurance, I long to be found, recognized, yet not saved.

 

“I am a collection of dismantled almosts.”
― Anne Sexton, Anne Sexton: A Self-Portrait in Letters


Video – The poem, “I Am”, written by John Clare, read by Tom O’Bedlam.

Music — “Flight of the Bumblebee”, by Rimsky-Korsakov.        *           *            *

 

114 thoughts on “Blind Orchid”

  1. Frenzied indeed trying to Quickstep to Rimsky-Korsakov’s, “Flight of the Bumblebee”. Wonderful hundred words that bring to mind various thoughts and remembrances, and how I used to read “Where The Wild Things Are” to our daughter, now so many, many years ago. Nicely recited “I am”.

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    1. Thank you Tim, in fact that quickstep bit gave me a chuckle, it would be something to watch. I’m so happy to read that this effort brought some thoughts and remembrances to mind, especially reading to your daughter, “Where The Wild Things Are”. John Clare, an interesting fellow, such clarity found within his words, a favorite and seemed to fit quite nicely. Tom O’Bedlam certainly has a wonderful voice. Have a good week Tim. ~ Mia

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  2. Indeed, this is a very different style and tone to your other writings. I mean that in a very good complimentary way. 🙂 I remembrance yes…your creativity always brings a big smile to me. You are making 2017…a very special year for me. 🙂 Bless you my friend. 🙂

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    1. I’m glad that you found this interesting. Nothing of the material last indefinitely, it would be impossible to save or keep things as they are forever. Please take care and have a great week. ~ Mia

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    1. Thank you George, I’m very please to read that you enjoyed this effort. I find that John Clare has a very endearing quality, due to the clarity of his words, and that he believed that he had formerly been Byron and Shakespeare in previous lives. Who knows, a great mystery. Have a wonderful evening George. ~ Mia & R

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  5. This post simply add to my own muffled thoughts about existence and my place in the scheme of life. Beautifully written and captivating. I did listen to “flight of the Bumble Bee” to add the entire picture. Have a wonderful day and short winter Mia.

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    1. Hector, thank you for making my day with your kind words. I hear you, not a day goes by that I don’t think about this, too. Wishing you a wonderful day also. It has been cold and rainy here, I hope you’re having sunshine. Take care. ~ Mia

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  7. This just about broke my heart, Mia. I hate to confess that, because it’s usually a mistake to read too much into the things that pop out of us. But it triggered all my protective instincts, for all the good that would do! 🙂

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  8. Yesterday indiscernible from today or tomorrow, no time, no matter… What a quick puff of smoke we are in this existence. Very sobering. Love the reading of the John Clare poem – a wonderful voice! I hope your day has gone well, my friend. 🙂

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  10. Wow, Mia. Such profound and somber thoughts. Interestingly, Cake posted something that I feel goes along with this. The poetry reading was wonderful, I liked both the poem and the reading voice. You always pull everything together with such thoughtfulness.

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    1. Hi Vic, thank you for your kind words. The sound of Tom O’Bedlam’s voice is marvelous, he does a fantastic reading of “I Am!”, I’m pleased I had an opportunity to use it. Wishing you a wonderful Tuesday. ~ Mia

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  11. I find this quite deep, but if you have this understanding, why do you come into bloom but once a year? Maybe just enjoy the “Flight of the Bumble Bee” while the onlookers work out their own spiritual salvation in the material universe? But you have a beautiful vision, I wouldn’t worry so much about decay, decadence, and darkness, but rather coming to a deeper realization of the emptiness you seem to be approaching and the resulting connection to reality which may bloom YOU into itself on a more continual basis!

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    1. Michael, thank you for your comment. Perhaps the narrator comes into bloom only once a year to watch the quickstep. Really, how often can you listen to, “Flight of the Bumble Bee” without climbing the walls? Looking forward to giving you a visit later today. Have a terrific Tuesday, take care. ~ Mia

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  12. Brilliant post Copper, where to start the avalanche of praise? First of, great, eerie and disturbing photo. Very surreal, and I mean that as a compliment and in the strictest sense. The work itself, well you mention decay and decadence which I obviously love. I am particular struck by the thought that where there is no time, there is no matter. if you follow the Gnostic version of creation which influenced the Kabbalah this makes perfect sense, God is beyond creation, time only came into being with the material world. Hell is always portrayed as being subject to constant change, fire, energy etc, whereas Heaven is static, the clocks have stopped, indeed have been banished. Eternity is static. Again I have probably strayed from your intentions, but really thought provoking Miss Cranes. Mr Cake.

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    1. Mr. Cake, thank you so very much for a wonderful comment. A lot of Katie Eleanor’s photography has a strange otherworldly quality to it, I’m quite fond of her work. You, didn’t stray, it’s absolutely true where there is no time, there is no matter. It all becomes immaterial, both lacking physical properties and being most unimportant or irrelevant. You’ve reminded me of a song by, Talking Heads, “Heaven”.

      “…Heaven
      Heaven is a place
      A place where nothing
      Nothing ever happens…”

      So yes in this instance it’s static! Time is such an unpredictable thing, even in our own realm. Thanks again Mr. Cake, apologies for the tardy reply, will attempt to swing by this evening and start catching up. ~ Miss Cranes

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  13. This is very moving Mia. Everything here ,the poem, the spoken word, the photo and your carefully and beautifully crafted words. It’s all just as lovely as any sunset at the end of my day. Take care and have a wonderful evening. – Lola 🌺

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    1. Thank you Lola, for a lovely comment. I would gladly trade my words any day to experience one of your sunsets, they really are works of art. I hope that you have a wonderful evening, take good care and stay warm. ~ Mia 🙂

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    1. Hi Daniel, thank you for your lovely words. Maybe we all have a place within us that no one knows about.

      Such a wonderful song, “I Never Cry”, it’s sentimental and painfully beautiful. I’m delighted that you were prompted to go listen to it. Thank you for your kindness. I hope the week has been good to you so far, please have a lovely and peaceful evening. Take care. ~ Mia

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        1. Hi Daniel, thank you for the kind wishes. Apologies for the delay in my reply and not visiting you and your work. I’ve been involved with an unexpected family emergency. When things are calm I will be over to catch up. Again my sincere apologies. Enjoy your Sunday. ~ Mia

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          2. Dear Daniel, thank you for your gracious words and thoughts, as well as your kindness. As T. S. Eliot, would say, “Shantih shantih shantih”, please take good care. ~ Mia

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  15. Hello Mia,

    Perhaps it’s because decay and decadence are dancing the quickstep, things which are only enjoyable, well, let’s say fulfilling at least, only every so often? But I agree too much bumblebee is definitely a bad thing!

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    1. Hello Michael, apologies for my delayed reply. Presently involved in a family emergency, when all calms down I will be over and follow. I’ve read several of your pieces, very interesting perspective. Again please accept my apologies. Enjoy your Sunday. ~ Mia

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          2. You’re most welcome Michael, my pleasure. I look forward to leaving you some comments when I return. Please take good care in the mean time, that phrase always gets me, “mean time”! ~ Mia 😉

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          4. Thank you, that’s so kind. Apparently, I may not have a follow by email… hmm. Please don’t worry about it Michael. I only post once a week, usually on Mondays when I’m able. Wishing you well. ~ Mia

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          6. Michael! I just had a quick visit, “To Eternity”. A wonderful piece, I left you some words.

            Indeed, life is a short nap, definitely go BIG!

            So tell me, does this mean you created a new WordPress website? Or am I confused? (Most probably!) Please send me a link if there is a new site. Have a great day! ~ Mia

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          7. Do tell what your visit was like! Thank you for the kind words. Yeah I created a new WordPress site- maybe it’s possible but I couldn’t figure out how to post on wp with an external site. Same stuff though, just will pace posting for awhile. New wp site is outlawuniversejournalismnet.wordpress.com . Thanks again and have a great day…

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          8. It was a terrific visit. I had read a few of your posts earlier. I like your approach and style, you touch on a lot of things that I think and write about in a round about way, so for me that’s very intriguing.

            Thanks for the link! ~ Mia

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  16. You have made wonderful use of each and every word 🙂 apt use i must say.. the word limit has actually made it even more interesting to read :))))
    I loved the quote you shared too
    “Dismantled almosts” yeah i must say I am atleast 😉

    Regards

    p.s. Do go thru my latest blogpost as its on a debatable topic.. im looking for enough valuable feedback to elaborate the theme on a diff post..:

    Thanks stay in touch !!!! Just cane across your blog and it was a leisure read .. food for thought as well

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    1. Advaita, thank you for a very lovely comment. I will most definitely visit your site, it may be a bit, I have not been on WP much lately. Wishing you a wonderful rest of your day, enjoy the week ahead. Take care. ~ Mia

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  17. Thanks for sharing that video :)))) you know give wonderful ideas of being creative with blog writing 😉 i never knew john clare is a poet s name.. its something new i learnt yaar …
    ita nice to listen to poems being read out.. we can relate better

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  20. Dear mia !! These feelings are comman for emotional hearts.heart is beautiful as orchid n when falls in love,then become blind.bt i am thinking dt your blind Orchid is related from someone.evethough ur writtin lines are amazing.🌹

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    1. Aruna, please accept my apologies for the delay. I’ve been involved in a family emergency, so I have not been active in WP. When all calms down, I will be over to visit you. Please take care in the mean time, and thank you as always for your very kind works. ~ Mia

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  23. Hi Mia, there is such a sense of timelessness which you speak of on your lines. Being beyond the concept of it, of even the moon and sun. Like an orchid blooming once a year, you are so rare, but whether this is recognized or not. I don’t know if it’s important if time doesn’t matter, of certain times we’d usually value.

    The poem in the video was sad, obviously he is going through mental health issues and even his friends act weird, don’t visit because of his illness. He’s unsure of time what’s real and just wants to be beyond the world with his creator. Gone already. Suicidal I think but also just tired of what he’s going through, wants to truly be home, beyond time. Where he can relate to his loved ones again and be who he really is, not what illness makes him.

    Lovely choice and lovely poem. Enjoy your week!

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    1. Hi Amanda, thank you so much for a lovely comment. I was hoping to create a timeless atmosphere, but I think there are still ideas and objects that can’t help but ground us to the here and now. It’s fun to try, I will probably give it another go at sometime in the future.

      John Clare was a most interesting fellow, his poem, “I Am!” has been a favorite of mine, perhaps because of the profound nature of his clarity at the time he penned his words. Rather heartbreaking and quite endearing.

      Thank you again, please enjoy your week too! Take good care. ~ Mia 🙂 💜

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  25. Hi Mia, I noticed you haven’t been around lately and came to say I hope all is well. I see you have had a family emergency and just wanted to say that I hope things are resolved soon. Miss you! 🙂

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    1. Hi Vic, thank you so much for your kindness. It has been a day by day thing right now. I feel awful that I’ve missed so much, plus during my absence I had a piece published online, for days I’ve been trying to write a “thank you” post, but I haven’t been able to stay focused enough to take care of it. Thank you again for thinking about me, I miss you too! I hope you’ve been well, please take care. ~ Mia 🙂 💜

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      1. Please don’t worry. People understand, though I know how it feels to think you need to be doing something that you can’t. I’m hoping that things get better day by day. Hugs! ❤

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  27. Gorgeous writing and thought provoking, as ever. Love the poem and it is beautifully read. Someone else said that you always put everything together so well (I was nosy and read the comments) and it’s very true. You give us the full “arty” experience and it’s wonderful everytime. For reasons too long to go into here, Flight of The Bumblebee has been played in my house countless times.
    I hope you’re having a lovely weekend – take care 💜
    Nathalie

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    1. Lovely Nathalie, thank you, your words have brightened my day. Tom O’Bedlam has a wonderful voice and his readings are always great. A rather heartbreaking poem, but still so beautiful, I’m glad that you enjoyed it. 🙂 Little did I know when this was posted, that chaos would be ready to quick step into my life shortly after that. When listening to, “Flight of the Bumblebee” a frantic feeling comes over me, I hope that’s not the case for you. Apologies for my absence, I’ve been unable to remain focused and find myself just staring at the words the last several weeks. Fingers crossed things will turn the corner one way or another by the end of the upcoming week. Please enjoy the rest of your Sunday and have a wonderful week ahead, take care. ~ Mia 💜

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      1. Mia, I’m so, so sorry chaos has found its way into your life. I don’t know what to say except I do hope whatever trouble is at your door gets resolved soon. I’m sending you lots of positive vibes and good energy. It’s not much, but it’s heartfelt—I am thinking of you 💜
        Take care, lovely Mia xo
        Nathalie

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        1. Nathalie, thank you for your kind thoughts, you have such a beautiful heart. The positive vibes and good energy has certainly helped. I hope you’ve been well, wishing you wonderful week. Please take good care. ~ Mia 💜 xo

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