Saturday, July 18, 2009

SPH: The Rocks Cry Out



Shorelines and streams... rock.
(Click pictures to enlarge)

"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters." ~ Norman Fitzroy Maclean, A River Runs Through It

"As hard as rocks" or so the saying goes; yet, combine them with soft lapping water at the shoreline or the melodic gurgling sounds of the flowing stream and together they stir the emotions and soften the heart. In each of these places, it is easy to relax and breath easy... letting the cares of the day slip away.


Bridges, walls, gardens.... rock.

"The beautiful must ever rest in the arms of the sublime. The gentle needs the strong to sustain it, as much as the rock-flowers need rocks to grow on, or the ivy the rugged wall which it embraces." ~ Harriet Elizabeth Beecher Stowe

Rocks denote strength... "as solid as a rock". Giant stones form a sturdy bridge in Brooklyn's Prospect Park, a retaining wall at Norfolk Botanical Gardens and a foundation for beautiful plants in the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. Strong, holding firm... no one is afraid to walk on or beside these rocks.


Large boulders or small gravel..... rock.

"A pile of rocks ceases to be a rock when somebody contemplates it with the idea of a cathedral in mind." ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I wondered where this huge basket of rocks was headed... to build a gorgeous Gothic chapel or a beautiful fireplace or possibly to accent the front of a mansion. And these small smooth gravel fragments that form that driveway... to the library, to the new school, to that first home. Just a pile of rocks... until someone has an idea.


Colorful tumblers.....rock.

"We can throw stones, complain about them, stumble on them, climb over them, or build with them." ~ William Arthur Ward

Who knew rocks could be so colorful? Of course the colors you see in granite countertops, marble fireplaces, and in various semi-precious stones are all here. When I was a child my folks got me a rock tumbler one Christmas. With a little sand and water and time spent rolling together, all those sharp edges start smoothing away... the colors start to emerge and the dull, bland rocks morph into works of art. Aren't we like that.. rough and sharp on the edges, but with the irritations and abrasions of life, a little time under pressure and a little cooling off.. we smooth out, relax and let the inner beauty out. Hmm. Where did that rock tumbler disappear to?


Gold and diamonds and jewels....rock. Posted by Picasa

"She is mine own,
And I as rich in having such a jewel
As twenty seas, if all their sand were pearl,
The water nectar, and the rocks pure gold."
~ William Shakespeare

"Look at that rock on her finger!!" Some "rocks" sparkle and shine.. especially set in gold. Wouldn't it be nice if all of these were real? Just a thought!

Tennessee Chick graciously hosts Saturday Photo Hunt each week... and this week's theme is "rocks".

(end of post)

No comments: