Stone Angel

 

by John Clare

Long bide the time til resurrection day,
Lone guard of souls in earthly graves.
Etched in granite your tears are saved,
Stone angel, we all shall pass your way.
Guard our souls long journey we pray.
Come Creator, Come and ever raise,
Shout! Trump! Shall the dead offer praise?
Never more in this cold earth to lay?
Stone angel with wings poised to fly,
Bound in frosty mourns patient wait.
Burst the coffin to awake us home.
Soon you cease your gaze unto the sky,
Then in a blinding light new creations state!
Stone angel, how mighty you tower before the throne!

The Remnants of the Rich

Making our $17 per person reservations to board the ferry boat to Cumberland Island National Seashore, Melanie and I prepared for the trip.
Cumberland Island is the Southernmost barrier island along the Georgia coast. In the 1800's, it was the home to the Carniege family, with their sprawling mansion named Dungeness by Mrs Carniege.
Today, all that remains are the stone and brick walls along with several outbuildings, arbors and other rusting relics fro
a bygone era. In the small cemetery overlooking the marsh is the gravesite of Henry Lighthorse Lee, father of Robert E Lee, who died and was buried at Cumberland, later to be removed to Washington.
With Melanie still in her recovery, we opted to take the half day tour, from 9:45 to 4:45.
Arriving in St Mary's an hour in advance, we sat and admired the renovated waterfront with a park.
A festival was in progress so more people than expected were in town.
At the check in, we were told we had to pay the $4 park entry fee. At about noon, we were given instructions about the trip over and back, then our large group boarded the Cumberland Queen. We had a cart so we sat on the stern of the boat. You could sit on top, inside or along the sides.
The ride over takes about 45 minutes through the mouth of the Crooked and St Mary's river.
Riding into the wind was quite cold. Disembarking, we ate lunch at a picnic table set up just off the oak lined shell road.
We took the half mile walk to Dungeness, where we spotted several of the ferel horses on the island.
I also spotted two monarch butterflies. We walked about, thinking what it would have been like to live in this era when the ruins were new.
To imagine the horse drawn carriages, the servants about.
From Dungeness we took an arduous walk to the ocean, a mile of hilly sand dunes.
Melanie did well, keeping up and not faltering.
We did stop often to take in the scenery. On the beach, which extended well
over 500 ft to the Atlantic, we spread out a blanket and enjoyed the gulls and martins.
We watched our time closely as to not miss our ride back to mainland.
Making it back to the dock, we sat and watched three horses and eight turkeys feeding in the meadow behind the museum.
Finally, the boat arrived with already many in tow. Standing roo
only, we were able to take our same stern seats back.
We watched a submarine being towed to Kings Bay Base by a tugboat.
Last off boat, we walked down to the seafood restuarant on the water at the end of the park.
We saw the sunset as we ate shrimp, scallops and talapia.
We walked through the park then to the car, which upon cranking, shuttered and the engine light came on.
Getting gas in kingsland, the light did not come back as we prayerfully returned from a great day.
We made it home to set the time back, enjoying another hour of the day at Cumberland island.

The Perfect Pose

 

Over thirty different exposures of this Blue Heron were made as I crept closer and closer to him from below in the kayak.
After about thirty, the camera quit working. Memory card full. A sign that enough is enough. Yet, upon inserting another 2G card, continued photographing. When all look good to me, what pose does one choose? It would be nice if the Heron could view and choose.

Mallard Ducks of Itchetucknee

 

Each bend in the river, the wood ducks would remain just out of reach. Like a covey of quail, you would be startled by the flurry of their wings as they flew just ahead. On the return trip upstream, I rounded the bend, and there they sat, posed upon the branch. I had just enough time to quickly compose a photograph before,as they had all day, fly just ahead in wait.

Enter the White Heron

 

Quicky I dropped the paddle, took up the camera and captured the flight of the White Heron.

Blue Heron of Devils Eye

 

Nearer and nearer the kayak crept. Still the Blue Heron remained. How many photographs does one take before deciding, just stop and watch? Too many I fear.

First on the Water

The Ichetucknee Springs State Park opens at 8am. This morning, I was at the North entrance gate at 7:59am with kayak.
I payed the honor $5 fee and parked. Unloading, I drug and carried the kayak and photo gear about a half mile to the launch site.
Getting in off the dock was tricky, but I took it slow and did not capsize. It was already warm enough for a tee so I strapped the pullover microfiber on the back of the kayak with the tripod.
Once underway, the going was slow to Blue Hole. Many stops were made as the yellow wild flowers and cardinal flowers were abundant.
Past Blue Hole the current picked up and by Devils Eye, it was quite swift. Time was spent at Devils Eye close to a blue heron who stayed motionless on the bank. The morning solitude was broken by a lone canoe, a small Bell Canoe Works paddled by a man named Don.
I asked permission to take his photo as he passed. He said he would like a copy and gave me his email.
I wrote it on the notepad before forgetting.
Alone again, i made it as far as Mill Springs, where I ate a banana and almond joys
for a snack. I knew if I went further, with the swift current, it would be a long paddle back.
I went up Mill Springs a bit, to see the source of the water falling, which was falling over a log, before heading back.
The entire time, I never found the type photo envisioned, lush deep blues with greens, but got a few decent shots.
One particular like was coming on the wood ducks before they flew. Two males were perched out of the water, with the females below.
Another was a white heron with the sunlight behind him with a telephoto blurring just enough the background.
Near the take out, I stopped for about thirty minutes as the white heron fished a few feet in front .
The sun would come and go, making a variety of lighting conditions.
I gingerly crawled out of the kayak to the dock, walked back for the car,

loaded up, came home, got Melanie, where we then went to vote.

Come Homewood Come

Unto the mount I come
Bearing Olive branches for the Son.

Cast aside the earthly mirth
Sin has lost it's power
Enter in this new birth
Come! This the appointed hour!

Unto the Mount I retreat
Bearing aroma of pines sweet.

Proclaim today a joyful feast!
Join the Angelic host in song
Into the abyss falls the beast
Come! To clouds of witnesses strong!

Unto the Mount I bow low.
Kissing wounds with Myrtle boughs.

Repentance is granted today
The chains fall from thee
Quickly now! Ascend the Upper Way!
Come! The dawn breaks upon eternity.

Unto the Mount His Word bids me arise.
Come! See eternity swaying under palm strewn skies.

Why Walk Ye

by John Clare

Whose eyes were those that came this way?
In shadows slant what creatures crept?
Where goes this path at close of day?
Why walk ye as others slept?

Where lurks the dew drenched denizens?
A shiver awaiting days warming light.
Twisting, turning, the never focused lens.
Why walk ye through blur of night?

On bent knee in worshipful dawning,
Images begin the flow of blending.
To the infant sliver of light drawn.
Why walk ye this path never ending?

From edges of bogs comes the dawn,
To my feeble, sinking side so near.
Eyes upon thousand eyes all alone.
Why drop ye thou single tear?

Here's Your Sign

The Long Walk

Into the Valley