Friday, September 30, 2011

There is No End to Seeing


"Hokusai Says"

Hokusai says look carefully.
He says pay attention, notice.
He says keep looking, stay curious.
He says there is no end to seeing.




He says look forward to getting old.
He says keep changing,
you just get more who you really are.
He says get stuck, accept it, repeat
yourself as long as it is interesting.

He says keep doing what you love.
He says keep praying.




He says every one of us is a child,
every one of us is ancient.
Every one of us has a body.
He says every one of us is frightened.
He says every one of us has to find
a way to live with fear.




He says everything is alive --
shells, buildings, people, fish,
mountains, trees, wood is alive.
Water is alive.

Everything has its own life.
Everything lives inside us.
He says live with the world inside you.




He says it doesn't matter if you draw,
or write books. It doesn't matter
if you saw wood, or catch fish.
It doesn't matter if you sit at home
and stare at the ants on your veranda
or the shadows of the trees
and grasses in your garden.
It matters that you care.




It matters that you feel.
It matters that you notice.
It matters that life lives through you.




Contentment is life living through you.
Joy is life living through you.
Satisfaction and strength
is life living through you.

He says don't be afraid.
Don't be afraid.
Love, feel, let life take you by the hand.
Let life live through you.


~ Roger Keyes








Katsushika Hokusai  was a Japanese artist, painter and print maker  (1760 - 1849)

The photographs are mine.


42 comments:

  1. Very nice Teresa. My eyes raced over the words and pictures and I was....thrilled!

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  2. Simply beautiful. What a wonderful place.

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  3. What incredible pictures, every one. Fall is much advanced in your part of the country; here it is just beginning to show the beautiful colors like these. I care and simply am enthralled with your pictures... :-)

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  4. Beautiful photos Teresa, particularly knowing they are taken where you live. I really enjoy seeing pictures of where people live. It looks like you have a little bit of beautiful land. Fall won't start here for another 2-4 weeks.

    I hadn't heard of Roger Keyes before, but this is a very nice poem. Thanks for sharing these.

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  5. Thank you, Michael. I'm so glad. What a find this poem was for me. I keep re-reading it.



    TM, Thanks, Lynn. Aren't those words just silken? I'm glad you like my place. It's sure a good place to call home.



    DJan, Thanks so much. We had wind yesterday and last night and it took many of the leaves already. A short color season, but nice temps!

    I'm glad you like my pics. I found such joy in taking them. You just never know what you're going to get. What's going to jump out at you.

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  6. Rubye Jack, Glad you like my pics. A little slice of heaven I have here - just under six acres and I love it. I wrote about it a lot when I first bought it last summer. It's good to be home. :)

    I did what research I could on Roger Keyes and came up with nothing. I don't think he's an old British admiral. And there's a guy who twitters, but nothing to say it was him.

    I like it more every time I read it.

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  7. This was soul calming! I would have loved to meet the artist, Hokusai. Sounds like he was not only an artist, but a contemplative man with a gentle, vibrant soul. This Roger Keyes must have known him well.

    Notice, care, don't be afraid. This is one of those pieces where the words ring true. You know how when your soul hears truth it resonates...love it. Like a moth to the flame.

    Absolutely love your fall photos! Nothing like Minnesota in the autumn. :):)

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  8. Teresa, the pictures are incredibly beautiful. Those autumn colours are made to make us happy before winter!
    "Stay curious" that's important what he says. Always stay curious no matter how old you are.
    Thank you for those wonderful pictures.
    Grethe ´)

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  9. Hello Teresa:
    We found this post particularly moving and, of course, so true if only we all have the sense to live by what is advocated here. And the images 'fit' perfectly. How wonderful that they are all taken within the area of your home. Lovely.

    Kellemes hétvégét.

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  10. Hi Rita, This poem really resonates with me, too. I keep re-reading it and finding something new, much like walking around my place and always finding something new to photograph. It is about Seeing. I don't know how Roger Keyes came to his understanding and attributed it to this artist, but it really speaks to me, too.

    Thanks!



    Grethe, Yes, stay curious all our lives. It's a good plan, isn't it? Thank you!



    Jane and Lance, I think buying and living here on this property was exactly what I needed in life to help me understand just these things. There are many ways to achieve this, but this one is working for me, and beautifully. Taking these photographs and then finding this wonderful poem were, for me, a nice wedding of ideas. I'm glad you like them too.

    Is your closing Hungarian?

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  11. New information I've discovered on Roger Keyes: he is the author of several books on Japanese artists. His last one is on Japanese picture books or "ehons."

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  12. Gee ... this post and poem seems to have been written for me. Thanks!

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  13. Very nice thoughts to share, I really enjoyed it.You found some real nice colors and textures to share, there is such a charm in the fall.

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  14. Hi Bob! Good to see you! Whenever something speaks to me so clearly, I feel fairly certain it will to someone else. I'm glad it spoke to you.



    Steve, Everywhere I look, especially when I really see the details, it's just a wonderland of photo opps.

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  15. What a joy to see your haven as Autumn makes its mark there, Teresa. Colors are just starting to come through here, but, the wind you had visited us as well and created a bit of a mess here. Is that a maple in your first pictures? It is so brilliant. Coming back from MN on Monday, we agreed we have to plant a sugar maple for the color. We have a lot of trees here, but, try to put a new one in each year for the next generation to enjoy, and, oh, what a statement that tree makes.

    Your poem touched me this morning. Calmness and an awakening of the senses comes through to me here. You have such a wonderful ability to fit the poem with your pictures and moods. Well done!

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  16. Hi Penny, Yes, a maple. They make the colors come alive. Planting trees is such a good thing to do. I love the variety the man who created this place had the foresight to include.

    Thank You!

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  17. Awesome photos! I had never read this before...thank you for introducing me to it. It was good for me to hear today.

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  18. The words, together with your photos, are so very beautiful.

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  19. What a wonderful photographer you are! You have a great eye.

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  20. Somehow I need to get these words on to a piece of card and stick it on the wall in my room. I need to, I absolutely need to.

    If I can't find them anywhere else I need to take them off your blog.

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  21. LadyCat, When I read it for the first time a couple of days ago, I couldn't believe I had not run across it before. It was just a beautiful "happenstance." And I had just taken the photos, so it worked! I'm glad you've found these words helpful. I certainly did!



    Marilyn, Thank you so much!



    Ms. Sparrow, It's so fun to really See what's out there, offered up to us every day. Thank you!



    Friko, I know they are in at least a couple of other spots on the web, but you are certainly welcome to lift them from my blog. Aren't they wonderful? I keep coming back to them myself.

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  22. Sweet words. Sweet photos. Sweet you. I like this alot.

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  23. I, too, was thinking that I want to copy these words and keep them nearby. Your photos are wonderful as always, and a good reminder that I need to get out and take advantage of the great colors we are beginning to see.

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  24. Steven, Thank you. I'm glad. :)



    Nancy, That wind last week took a few, but I was happily surprised to see them recover and are still going strong. It's gorgeous out there. Print out my post if that would make it easier. Happy Sunday!

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  25. I LOVED this poem by Roger Keyes, and it was paired beautifully with your lovely photographs, Teresa. You've provided me with great inspiration with which to begin this lovely October day.

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  26. George, Isn't it a great poem? I'm glad you feel inspired by it. It is a beauty of a day.

    Thanks! Always good to hear from you.

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  27. Lovely combination of photos and poetry. What kind of camera do you use? I'm hoping to upgrade before too long... you do nice work!

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  28. Hi Jeanne, I have to admit, my equipment would not be an upgrade more than likely. I use only a Canon PowerShot A590, basically a point and shoot, but I use the manual mode to give me more capability. It's still not as fun as my old 35mm, but I do love the endless shots you can take with digital and then erase what doesn't work. Lots of good options out there, and one of these days I'll do an upgrade, too. I'm limited on close-up shots, they lack the clarity really good equipment allows for. But thank you for the kind and encouraging words. It's so much Fun. I love the composition aspects of it.

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  29. Photos and words that make the world better. That's what it's all about. Awesome post. Thanks, T :)

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  30. Thank you, Will. You certainly are doing some fine things to make the world a better place. I always come away from your site with inspiration and hope.

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  31. OMG! Hokusai touched deep within my soul. It is so filled with - with Everything! Thank you, thank you for sharing!!

    Teresa, your photos are gorgeous...you truly live in a slice of heaven.

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  32. You're welcome! He did me, as well, Kittie. Beautiful ideas and the words to express them.

    I'm glad you like my photos. I'm having a lot of fun with them. Yes, it is a wonderland.

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  33. Loved this!!

    Such a poem about mindfulness....

    Your pictures are gorgeous, and so is your little piece of dirt...what a blessing, eh?

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  34. Akannie, It really is a wonderful reminder to be mindful. :)

    My little piece of dirt is a slice of heaven. A blessing, indeed.

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  35. What a beautiful series of photos in a great setting and a wonderful time of the year!

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  36. What a beautiful, beautiful post! Words and photos both. I am so glad I visited here today. :-)

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  37. Susannah, I'm glad you stopped by and that you enjoyed this post. I had such fun creating it. I keep going back to the words myself. They really are beautiful. Thank You for visiting.

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  38. Wonderful! Wonderful words Teresa!
    They are so powerful, I shall be copying them into my journal and returning often. They are especially relevant to where I am in my life presently. Thank you SO much for placing them here for us all!
    Your photographs of the trees are simply beautiful,how you are lucky to be surrounded by such wonders.
    Sending a hug x Jane

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  39. I thought so too, Jane. They've stayed with me. I'm really enjoying taking pictures. It's the perfect time of year. Thanks so much and Best thoughts to you.

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  40. Thanks, Green Monkey! I'm glad you stopped by. It looks like you're a spirited woman who speaks her mind. I like that.

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