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Touching Stone - A Journey of the Mind Part II

Photography by Tim Wong

Calligraphy by Akiko Hirano

The-Way-Calligraphy.jpg

Calligraphy ink on Japanese paper, Akiko Hirano

I have always known

that at last I would take this road

But yesterday I did not know

that it would be today

        - Arihara-no Narihira (825-880)

Transcendence Japanese rock garden meditation
Transcendence Chaco Canyon Anasazi ruin
Transcendence Chaco Canyon Anasazi ruin
Transcendence Chaco Canyon Anasazi ruin

"Transcendence No. 1 - 4"  silver gelatin prints, Tim Wong

Path in snow

Calligraphy ink on Japanese paper, Akiko Hirano

From ancient time to present

there were not two paths

- from Zenrinkushu (Eicho 1429-1504)

Enzo circle kiva in snow
NoTwoWays-Calligraphy.jpg

"The Path"  silver gelatin print, Tim Wong

"Enzo"  silver gelatin print, Tim Wong

Osorezan where spirits dwell

"Where Spirits Dwell"  silver gelatin print

Tim Wong

Seeking Ancient calligraphy

Calligraphy, Akiko Hirano

Seek not to follow

the footsteps of the ancient

Seek what they sought

- Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)

 

Chaco Anasazi ruin New Life

"Renascence"  silver gelatin print

Tim Wong

Pueblo Alto Anasazi ruin storm

"Waves"  silver gelatin print, Tim Wong

Chaco Great Kiva

"Circle of Stone"  silver gelatin print, Tim Wong

Anasazi ruin and cloud rising spirit

"Rising Spirit #2"  silver gelatin print, Tim Wong

False kiva in cave

"Equinox"  silver gelatin print, Tim Wong

Touching Stone

Against the inkstone

the ink stick grinds

setting free my mind

Rustling the bamboo leaves

a light breeze plays

in the twilight

 

A bird takes wings, leading me

on a pilgrimage

to a time long forgotten

 

An amber light glows

in the dark, illuminating

a new life emerging

 

Into the warmth of Mother Earth

the open arms of Father Sky

Across canyons and mesas

like waves

 

Atop the most sacred place

Sun Dagger finds its home

White and blue the dancers' sash

stained a brilliant crimson red

 

For a thousand years

in a circle of stone

the fiery drums

reverberate

 

Right and left

forth and back

the Kachinas dance

ne'er touching ground

 

Over the rock walls

their spirits soar

free at last

as clouds

 

Returning to earth

the Owner of Fire

transformed

into a gift of beauty

 

Tonight the wind still blows

the bamboo grove sways

My heart rejoins the inkstone

in perfect harmony

 

Touching Stone Journey translated 

- Akiko Hirano

Sun Dagger Chaco Canyon

"Sun Dagger"  silver gelatin print, Tim Wong

Sipapu.jpg

"Circle of Stone #2"  silver gelatin print, Tim Wong

Solstice sun Anasazi ruin

"Solstice"  silver gelatin print, Tim Wong

Anasazi kiva ceremonial chamber

"Revelation"  silver gelatin print, Tim Wong

Gift-of-Beauty-Calligraphy.jpg

Calligraphy ink on Japanese paper, Akiko Hirano

Over the rock walls their spirits soar

free at last as clouds

Returning to earth the Owner of Fire

transformed into a gift of beauty

Osorezan hot spring emergence

"Emergence"  silver gelatin print

Tim Wong

Anasazi ruin eulogy tribute
Plaza Blanca The White Place Abiquiu

"Eulogy"  silver gelatin print

Tim Wong

"Communion"  silver gelatin print

Tim Wong

Bisti Badland

"Ethereal"  silver gelatin print

Tim Wong

The-Seeker_edited.jpg

"The Seeker"  silver gelatin print

Tim Wong

Final-Privilege-Calligraphy.jpg

Calligraphy ink on Japanese paper

Akiko Hirano

Immersing myself

deep into the land

A final privilege

I turn to stone

Vermillion Cliffs White Pocket

"Final Privilege"  silver gelatin print

Tim Wong

Flock of birds lone tree

"Departure"  silver gelatin print

Tim Wong

Not Even a Bird Cries calligraphy

Calligraphy ink on Japanese paper

Akiko Hirano

Not even a single bird cries

the mountain is more tranquil

Wang Anshi (1021-1086)

Yamadera shrine in fog

"Remembrance"  silver gelatin print

Tim Wong

Mountain-top Temple

"Pinnacle" silver gelatin print

Tim Wong

Thousand-Peaks-Calligraphy.jpg

Calligrahy ink on Japanese paper

Akiko Hirano

A thousand peaks

lead to a single pinnacle

- Zen saying

Japanese mountain-top castle

"Castle in the Sky" silver gelatin print

Tim Wong

Hermit Calligraphy.jpg

Calligrahy ink on Japanese paper

Akiko Hirano

I occasionally come under some pine trees

Falling asleep on a rock as pillow

No calendar in the mountains

Winter has ended but what year?

- Tang hermit (name/year unknown)

Hermit's Rock shrine in forest

"Hermit's Rock" silver gelatin print

Tim Wong

End is beginning temple meditation

"End or Beginning" silver gelatin print

Tim Wong

Temple-Gate-Calligraphy_Hirano.jpg

"Temple Gate" calligraphy

ink on Japanese paper, Akiko Hirano

Shutting the temple gate

C-r-e-a-k, it goes

an autumn evening

- Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902)

Temple gate harmony

"Return to Harmony" silver gelatin print

Tim Wong

Time past and time future
what might have been and what has been
point to one end, which is always present

 

― T.S. Eliot (1888-1965)

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