One Single Impression: Allow

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I think only you
Could get anywhere
Near that guy

On account a
You are here every day.
You walk all the time
And he knows it

So I think
On account a that

You could get closer
Than anyone else

And get a picture.


So it is:
You show up
And it counts.

The great white
Heron

Will be

Nearer to you
Than to anyone
Because you leave

Him

Alone

Every time you walk by
Every single day.

Think about it.
How else to be a friend?
How else to love the world?

Show up
And keep to yourself.

Look around.
Get the picture.

The joke's on me with this one. First, this is a terrible photo. Second this is not the bird near home but a North Carolina relative. This one who would glide away at the sound of my camera powering up but who was cool as could be if the Marines came flying low and loud in one of their noisy mechanical birds.

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39 Comments

  1. Oh the places your mind will lead you if you let it wander a while...

    Great thoughts!! Lots to chew on and digest. I love it when you do that!

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  2. we even hve harens here n desplAins river
    I mean harems

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  3. Om I ment harum in Harlum
    Yes I have been reading Nasgh yrash Where candy is dandybut liquer quicker

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  4. i am glad you "allowed" us to share this lovely poem with you! well done my dear friend

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  5. .. an essay on friendship clouded by poetry .. that is the beauty ..

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  6. sandy, I like this post: it's really unusual.

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  7. I'm guessing not a terrible photo, but a tight crop of a pretty wide shot. From a distance.

    The big picture is probably just fine. But cropped to the subject, resolution and sharpness suffer.

    Two choices really. A lot more patience or a lot more lens. Either way, the Heron isn't disturbed.

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  8. interesting prose and photo...you wonder what they are thinking at times.

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  9. Anonymous3:39 AM

    Nice...:)
    I liked the pic..it was fine..and a'ways it just fell in sync with the verses...felt that was more important here..:)
    Yeah, can never tell when these furry or wing-clinged creatures take your breath away by flying right over you when you are tring to capture their beauty..:))
    Verses were so natural and the flow was amazing...:)
    Keep writing!

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  10. Anonymous4:38 AM

    I like the photo very much. Add a little artistic watercolor painting filter and, voila! A masterpiece!

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  11. Playing coy?
    You tease friends not enemies.
    Green grass and sods.

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  12. A great message in this one, and your explanation reminds me that nature thrives in the UK on the land set aside purely for military training. A strange relationship.

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  13. I liked the picture and the prose. It is interesting how you can make friends and relate to wildlife if you just leave them alone. You capture a bit of their essence in the photograph too. :)

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  14. Hi sandy
    I wanna be able to write something
    beautiful in Enlgish like you:)
    Every your word is very wonderful!

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  15. Shining river water, soft green, and the figure of that bird, all look good and make me feel relaxed.

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  16. Its a good photo!

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  17. Sandy: Good one, you had me completely fooled.

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  18. I guess it's what one is use too ... is what one will allow. It's not the big noise that scares me, it the small clicking sounds in the back of my mind --- reminding me of time.

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  19. I love the words and the photograph Sandy. I don't understand at all why you think it's a terrible photo. I think it's very dreamy and a great capture of the bird.

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  20. yes... allow is a powerful gift.

    Spirithelpers

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  21. I agree with Tammie, Allow is a powerful gift.

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  22. Aren't they the most graveful looking birds even though they don't trust most people. Nice poem too.

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  23. I am struck by these lines, and think I will post them to see everyday:

    "How else to love the world?

    Show up
    And keep to yourself.

    Look around.
    Get the picture."

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  24. Your poetry is so aprpo to the photo. BUT . . . I like the poem alone also as it can mean different things and you can conjure up your own photo if you change those few words that say it is a great white heron. Lovely poem!

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  25. Your poem brings the photo to life.
    It can be difficult getting photos of wild birds - sometimes they fly away and other times they chase you away if you get too close.
    Giving them just the right amount of space allows one to get a great photo - just like you did here.

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  26. Anonymous1:14 AM

    an excellent pic! maybe it flies away at the sound of ur camera coz its not used to that sound. its got used to the jet sound i guess! :)

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  27. Ah, but your photo is a dreamy artisitc impression to go with your poetry! How nicely you captured the idea in the moment and conveyed it to us...there's a bit of truth in what you say. And..aren't birds always that way!

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  28. I find birds to be very difficult to photograph. They don't stay still long enough and scoot at the slightest untoward movement.

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  29. I love photos taken in Nature...this is a beauty.

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  30. It's not a horrible picture! Looks like he didn't mind you though. :)

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  31. Full of fun and provocative thought!

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  32. Hi Sandy! What a great post!!! I love the lines "Show up
    And keep to yourself.

    Look around.
    Get the picture." Ironically- that is kind of my mantra at school. Being one of the "older" teachers now, I try hard to follow those words and not get caught up in all the drama with the younger teachers. Those are definate words to live by!! Best of luck with your return to school today and a hope for a great year!

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  33. Hi Sandy, I saw the picture about half way through. Before that I was going to suggest to get a dog to walk with you also, people will visit with you much more often then.
    Adi and I walk. She chases all the white cranes she can find right into the water. They spread their wings as they get near that water.
    I like this poem, it does tell more than just being able to get close to nature. How to Socialize with a Heron, et al
    Of course I was right before I got the picture.
    ..

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  34. I think the lines: Show up equals be aware for me and I am nodding my head at many things you wrote here.

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  35. Beautiful Sandy. Oh the places we shall go and the thinks we will see.
    No longer looking through a glass darkly but He shall allow to see all.


    love-Melanie-bd

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  36. I simply love this poem and commentary. It cracked me up. I love the vernacular and attitude. Thank you!

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  37. I really like the colloquial, almost-conspiratorial tone of this. I've been in those footsteps you have trodden - trying to capture the elusive heron (mine was blue).

    Kat

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  38. this poem is a good one, Sandy. Kinda talking to yourself, I think. I can see you everyday, playing it cool, walking by. He begins to know you as you know him. Still a good shot! :)

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Thanks for being here.