March 27, 2022 • 67

LAPC #192: Earth Story

In this week’s challenge, Amy is honoring the earth. Given her topic and the fact that Earth Day is approaching, I decided to let my photos and a beautiful poem by Joy Harjo take center stage. Harjo was the American poet laureate in 2019 and a member of the Mvskoke/Creek Nation. She writes with the deep wisdom of indigenous people. 

The Majestic 12 Apostles, Great Ocean Road, Australia

Remember by Joy Harjo

Remember the sky that you were born under, know each of the star’s stories. Remember the moon, know who she is.

Joshua Tree Sunset.

Remember the sun’s birth at dawn, that is the strongest point of time. Remember sundown and the giving away to night.

My husband Rich, just a few hours old. Brooklyn, NY

Remember your birth, how your mother struggled to give you form and breath. You are evidence of her life, and her mother’s, and hers. Remember your father. He is your life, also.

Sedona Walk with Aly.

Remember the earth whose skin you are: red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth, brown earth, we are earth. Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their tribes, their families, their histories, too. Talk to them, listen to them. They are alive poems.

The American Plains, Road Trip 2018.

Remember the wind. Remember her voice. She knows the origin of this universe.

Students gathered in front of Notre Dame, Paris.

Remember you are all people and all people are you. Remember you are this universe and this universe is you. Remember all is in motion, is growing, is you. Remember language comes from this. Remember the dance language is, that life is. Remember.

If you’d like to hear Joy Harjo recite her poem, click the link below. I love how she reminds us of the wisdom embedded in the earth and in each one of us.

A special thanks to Amy for hosting this beautiful Earth Story challenge. We hope you join us and share your images that highlight the majesty and beauty of Mother Earth. Please remember to link to Amy’s post and use the Lens-Artists tag.

Last week your responses to Ann-Christine’s Curves challenge were wonderful! You showed us curves in nature, in architecture, in faces, in art… I think we all came away with the idea that curves can be found just about everywhere once we start to notice them. Next week, be sure to visit John Steiner’s blog Journeys with Johnbo as he leads us in a “Birthdays” challenge. He invites us to share images that highlight what’s special about birthdays, anniversaries, and other special events.

We will be traveling later this week, so given jet lag and other delays, I will be off line for a few days. But I’ll be back on the “other side,” with new photos and new experiences to share with you all–our wonderful community. I will always appreciate the connections we’ve made with you through Lens-Artists. You are more proof of the goodness and creativity in this world–something I value more than ever.

Categories: LENS-ARTISTS, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Photography

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67 replies »

  2. Love the way you have articulated!
    Indeed a pleasure to read from the beginning to the end!
    And You wonderfully displayed the images resonating with Joy Harjo’s every line.
    Beautiful poetic expression and very touching!
    A timely reminder to all of us about the beauty of Mother Earth and how much we are indebted to her.
    Remember by Joy Harjo – a wake up call indeed!
    Thank you Pattimoed.

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  3. Your earth story post is poetically expressed, Patti. The poem is quite moving. Love your photo series, they tell fabulous stories of the sun, moon, birth, rocks, wind, and people.
    Thank you for contributing to this week’s theme while you are preparig for your upcoming trip.

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    • Hi, Amy. I really love this poem. It really resonated with me. I’m delighted you found it moving, too. ā¤ļøšŸ˜€. Our poor Earth is so battered right now. Thanks for reminding us to honor its beauty and its power. šŸ˜€šŸ˜€. Have a great week.

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    • Hi, Appeltjie. Yes, it does sound different. I had the same experience, too. The rhythm and intonation are great to hear. Thanks for your thoughts. šŸ˜€šŸ˜€

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  6. What a beautiful post, Patti. What a beautiful poem. My mother just passed and we put her to rest yesterday. I’ve spent the last 2 weeks going through and scanning family photos dating back to a century, so the line ” You are evidence of her life, and her motherā€™s, and hers” especially resonated. My favorite photo is the coastal shot you opened with. Thank you for sharing this wonderful post.

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    • Hi, Dianne. I am so sorry to hear about your mother’s passing. Hopefully, you were able to share some quiet moments and loving time together before she died. I am so thankful that the poem really resonated with you and gave you some comfort. That line…”you are evidence of her life…” is very powerful. I haven’t read many of Joy’s poems, but after finding this one a few days ago, I am definitely going to read more of them. Take care and I hope you can find some comfort in your memories of your mom and her enduring love. ā¤ļø

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    • Thanks so much, Anne. šŸ˜€ā¤ļø. It’s true about taking care of the earth. It’s taking us thousands of years to learn the wisdom of the indigenous people. Have a good week, too.

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  11. This is an especially wonderful piece Patti. The poem you chose is truly beautiful as well as powerful. I absolutely loved it and hadn’t seen it before. Its beauty is that any one of us could have written it, as its message is universal. Your images illustrate it perfectly and are terrific as always. Especially loved the Joshua Tree image. Is that really baby Patti with dad?!

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    • Hi, Tina. Thank you! I was very moved by Joy’s poem when I read it a few days ago and wanted to share it. Your comment about the baby makes me smile. It’s not me. It’s Rich and that’s the doctor that delivered him at Brooklyn Hospital. šŸ˜€ā¤ļøšŸ˜€. Am I reading into it? His mother said he was very gruff and unfriendly and it seems to me he’s holding Rich so casually!!

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    • Hi, Janet. Oh you went there! I love JT. It’s magical, don’t you think? I went on a photo shoot with a pro and he showed us the best spots to capture the sunset. It was amazing. I want to go back. Do you?

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      • I went for the first time on my way back from California earlier this year but didn’t realize that the majority of the Joshua trees aren’t on the main road through the park. Fortunately my husband and I went through again on our way out for our last trip and went on the loop where there are so many trees and rocks. It was even more amazing than before. I admit that I wondered about all the hype after the first trip, because there aren’t that many of the trees on the main road. šŸ™‚ Did you see the cholla forest? That’s incredible as well!! We’ll definitely go back.

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  18. What a beautiful poem, thank you for sharing it. And your photos fit perfectly with the words and are so nicely presented alongside them. I especially liked that sunrise with the cactus and the one accompanying ‘Remember the wind’.

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    • Hi, Sarah. I’m so happy you enjoyed it. It really moved me. The sunset and the cactus was in Joshua Tree. (For some reason I can’t get captions to appear in the Media + Text format.). And “Remember the wind” was a road trip to California. The plains are so starkly beautiful. Thanks as always for your thoughts and have a great week.

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    • Hi, Babsje. Wow! Thank you! That’s a wonderful compliment. Joy Harjo’s poem spoke to me. It’s deceptively simple and eloquent. Now I’m going to read more of her work. Thanks again and have a great week.

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  23. First of all safe travels. Jet lag meansā€¦itā€™s somewhere good. Lol
    On the next noteā€¦ I love how you interpreted this poem with you downs photos. It become a spiritual connection in her words and your pictures. Of course I love anytime about the wind and kisses and messages. šŸ¤—. Donna

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    • Hi, Donna. Thanks for the safe travel wishes. Flying certainly isn’t relaxing anymore! We’re off to Europe looking for some new adventures. I’ll keep you posted. As for the poem….it moved me deeply. I’m happy it resonated with you, too. And of course, the wind and all of nature are always inspiring! Take care and have a good week.

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  27. This is one of my favourite posts of yours, Patti. A stunningly beautiful poem well guided with your photography. I had to read it several times. And I will come back to it. So grateful you shared that poem with us. Take care and travel well ā™„

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