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.