the cost for the road i chose
[TIL #15] the clouds cleared up just as i reached the top of the hill
the clouds cleared up just as i reached the top of the hill
that place with the panoramic view over the seven hills of the city
i had been chasing pockets of light in the streets
colourful details
small trinkets of the season
people holding hands shot from the back to avoid intruding on their intimacy
red reflections in shop windows
golden leaves in a deserted park
the smallest of treasures i hoped to turn into evocative images loaded with warmth and emotion
it had been the very happy quest
of a solitary pilgrim driven by inflamed faith
each step bringing more gems
once in a while people would smile and raise a thumb at my weird old camera
i would nod and smile back
like i knew what i was doing
hey i actually knew
you called just when the clouds cleared up on the top of the hill
on the phone i was able to show you the beautiful light over the city
we talked for a little while
not much of a conversation
it was not practical
my face on that small rectangle thing and you all standing in the room raising a circle of glasses
i felt the pain when the call ended
the joyful traveller suddenly a lost fool drifting away
in the beautiful light i ached
the loneliness and distance
the cost for the road i chose
later that day
the pain turned into gratitude
that you were in my life
(Written during the Winter Writing Sanctuary organised by
)
Photos: Lisboa 2023
camera: Olympus OM-1, Olympus 50mm lens
film: Ilford 400
processed by Maquinas de Outros Tempos (o Porto)
Tales of Ink and Lights are short stories and poems told in a combination of words (the ink) and photographs (the light). Like the guitar and the voice in a folk song, text and pictures work together to bring you the story.
Thank you for reading the Tales.
Beautiful poetry and photography here.