Just because..
They say..
This wasn’t an easy one for me to post; it’s a very personal picture. I felt inspired to create it thanks to a recent post by The Bloggess which was both brave and comforting. What it depicts are things that have haunted me for longer than I care to remember, if you could ‘see’ my illness, this is what I think it would look like. The awareness ribbon is just for you, Jenny – thank you for reminding us all that we are not alone; that there is hope.
‘I say he should watch his ass
My friend don’t listen to the crowd’
I know..
This is completely groan-worthy, but the idea amused me.. so here it is! Happy summer, everyone!
On the bright side, it’s no worse than the film.. no? Oh well.. at least I promise there won’t be sequels :0)
Fishing..
This began as a rather obvious illustration of the well-known phrase but, as I was adding the compliment-fish, it struck me how difficult it can sometimes be to accept positive affirmation. I have issues with depression, so it does often feel like there is a shark of contempt pulling at my line; stopping me feel good about myself. But sometimes I manage to avoid it :0)
Horses Make A Landscape Look More Beautiful
Inspired by Alice Walker’s book of poems.
I love Walker’s work and thought that the title of this collection was suitably random and uplifting for the first post of my new project. I used to own this book; it was required reading for a university course, but it appears to have escaped my clutches. When I locate another copy I’ll quote some here. Until then, I’ll leave you with her wise words:
“Don’t wait around for other people to be happy for you. Any happiness you get you’ve got to make yourself.”
Edit – 12th August
My wonderful partner got me a copy of the book, so here is Walker’s inscription and one of my favourite poems:
We had no word for the strange animal we got
from the white man – the horse. So we called it
sunka wakan, ‘holy dog.’ For bringing us the
horse we could almost forgive you for bringing
us whiskey. Horses make a landscape look more
beautiful.
-Lame Deer Seeker of VisionsTORTURE
When they torture your mother
plant a tree
When they torture your father
plant a tree
When they torture your brother
and your sister
plant a tree
When they assassinate
your leaders
and lovers
plant a tree
When they torture you
too bad
to talk
plant a tree.When they begin to torture
the trees
and cut down the forest
they have made
start another.
