Sunday, June 15, 2008

Transience or Permanence


the transient tulip
may come again next year
the permanent stone
grows a covering of moss
or is hidden under leaves


photo & tanka © 2008, gerald england

posted in response to the "transcience or permanence" prompt at One Single Impression


The photograph was taken in the grounds of Pole Bank Hall.

I took a few photos of the little tulip. One close-up focused on the wall and another focused on the tulip. I posted the wall and a portion of the out-of-focus flower as a quiz picture on Hyde Daily Photo. Today I posted there the in-focus picture of the tulip.

23 comments:

  1. and i thought it was some kind of cave!

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  2. Perfect exmples of both prompts.

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  3. like a little sentry on duty, happy even though alone.

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  4. Lovely photos and poem. Transient tulip and permanent stone being eaten away by moss and lichen!

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  5. the tulip
    may come again next year
    the stone
    grows a covering of moss
    and stays forever.

    this just happened when I read your poem which I loved! :D The balance of transience and permanence... I hope you don't mind...

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  6. I remember Pole Bank Hall from your earlier post. I just love how time covers the stones with moss. Wonderful tanka for both transience and permanence, quietly coexisting.

    Congratulations on the new family member; the circle of life spins on.

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  7. the contrasts of delicate & strong play so wonderfully with the prompts

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  8. The contrast works so well here.

    BTW, I kind of reworked my poem:

    yearning

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  9. tulip beside stone turning green is wonderful compression.

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  10. I really like the contrast in the poem between the tulip (whose bulb sometimes looks like a stone) and the stone covered in moss so it looks like a plant. Nice!

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  11. But even the permanent stone experiences transcience, yes? Covered in something that may not be permanent. Beautiful tulip.

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  12. I love how you have woven the two words together so perfectly.

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  13. Lovely - stones and plants are so indicative of transience/permanence. Lovely!!

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  14. Wonderful juxtaposition of the permanent and the transient. I love your photos, especially the last tulip/stone picture.

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  15. indeed flowers are so transitory... and stone, hidden under the leaves, beautiful...

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  16. I love a contrast like that. Just right.

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  17. Beautiful transition and photo of tulip.

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  18. i really long for the tulips..and especially that yellow!

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  19. Love the rock contrasting with the tulip!

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