Enlighten
“You get to the point where your demons get
smaller and smaller and you get bigger and bigger.”
August Wilson
Sorry I’ve been away so long…
I travelled to the West Coast where
I worked on a number of my collections
including an exciting new documentary project
with a friend from Seattle that’s related to my Phantoms.
Here’s a new one that I took in downtown Los Angeles…
Happy to be Back!
visit Phantoms to see more in this series
©Meryl Spiegel 2013–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission
Together
virtually
in step
locked
together
connected
visit Phantoms to see more in this series
©Meryl Spiegel 2013–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission
Rebooted
One of the benefits of all this blogging
is the feedback received on my work. Last week
I responded to a generous offer of a Picture Critique by Otto of
Munchows Creative Photo Blog. In response I submitted my latest Phantom.
I knew that the background was too busy, but didn’t know quite how to improve it.
Within a few days, I had the answer. Otto simply suggested that I darken it so it almost appears
like night and increase the contrast in the foreground. Here’s the result…
Let me know what you think.
Thank you Otto!
©Meryl Spiegel 2012–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission
Powerless
lost my head
where’d it go
disconnected
who do I know
lost my head
boots keep walking
Yay a landline
am I talking
The recent loss of power by so many of us
in the Northeast has fed right into my persistent belief
–and the premise of my Phantoms series—that we are perilously too
reliant on technology in order to communicate on the most basic level.
Now when I view the most recent Phantom taken in New York about
a week before the hurricane, I’m quite spooked by
the premonition it seemed to convey…
Visit Phantoms to see more in this series
©Meryl Spiegel 2012–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission
Invisible
they say
she looks
her best
toned legs
ample breasts
why can’t
she rest
food aplenty
passed
her tests
why must
she wear
her heart
on her
chest
I say
why can’t
you listen
look inside
my refrain
why can’t
you see
me my
invisible
pain
visit Phantoms to see more in this series
©Meryl Spiegel 2012–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission
Scissored
going, going
halfway gone
headed south
oh so strong
scissored arms
scissored legs
moving past me
my own egg
Today I will be driving with my daughter to her new home
in the city where she will be starting her adult life. Quite a milestone
in her life and mine. Half of me wants to hold onto that little girl, the one
who hung onto my leg, who wouldn’t leave my side, who asked question after
question until they became too difficult for me to answer. The other half is mesmerized
by her mind, her beauty, but mostly by her strength and perseverance.
I’m sad, but oh so proud.
go to Phantoms to see more in this series
©Meryl Spiegel 2012–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission
Demon
headstrong
chamber full
pants outgrown
shirt so black
he knocks
then pounds
make room
clandestine attack
tap gently
turn the key
demon transfer
possibility
We all have our demons.
But what to do when they come knocking
in our dreams, in our thoughts, at our real doors?
For years, I was at their mercy, became paralyzed with fear
when they appeared in nightmares, on the phone, in a letter or at my door.
I would disappear, hand over my power just like that. Through recovery,
I’ve learned that I have a choice. To let then possess me…..or let
them pass through me, just like this Phantom displayed here.
What I’ve learned is that they come from the past which
is no longer….that today they exist
only if I let them.
Visit PHANTOMS to see all posts in this series
©Meryl Spiegel 2012–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission
Pace
morning stroll
with my pet
under control
in step
making plans
in high gear
lightheaded
disappear
re-emerge
historic place
winter hibiscus
slower pace
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©Meryl Spiegel 2012–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission
Fleeting
corners turned
canines flossed
fires extinguished
iPad embossed
apologies texted
placentas tossed
diary shredded
cowboys Indians
fleeting
lost
Visit PHANTOMS to see all posts in this series
and to see more Phantoms go to Photography by Meryl Spiegel
©Meryl Spiegel 2012–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission
Letting Go II
pedal into the night
trying hard my plight
disappear grow light
letting go take flight
give up the fight
turn not left nor right
coast pulled by a kite
thinking black and white
surrender not today
tomorrow I might
go to Letting Go to see first edition
Visit PHANTOMS to see all posts in this series
second stanza courtesy of Jeff Egan of Chicago
I invite you to add lines to my poems if so inspired
via comments and will post my favorites with permission
©Meryl Spiegel 2012–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission.
Angel
Deep down
he lies still survives
Lift me up
stop the spiral
Choose what’s white
not black and viral
Visit PHANTOMS to see all posts in this series
to read more about Angel go to Learning to See
©Meryl Spiegel 2012–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission.
Transition
Crossing campus
bundled in blue
how many chapters
have I been through
back to beginning
targets and goals
how about hopscotch
free no tolls
to read more go to Transition for a deeper reflection
To see more from my Phantoms series click on link to website
and take a moment to read Artist Statement
©Meryl Spiegel 2012–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission
Detach
monkey
chattering
with demands
spin around
knock off
Detach
Visit PHANTOMS to see all posts in this series
to see more from my PHANTOMS series press on link to website
©Meryl Spiegel 2012–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission
Letting Go
pedaling into the night
trying hard my plight
disappear grow light
let go take flight
give up the fight
Visit PHANTOMS to see all posts in this series
to see more from my PHANTOMS series press on link to website
©Meryl Spiegel 2012–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission
Idle
dare I
stop stare
chat chew sip
some green water
like Jackie O
idle for a
while
Visit PHANTOMS to see all posts in this series
and to see more Phantoms go to Photography by Meryl Spiegel
©Meryl Spiegel 2012–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission
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June 7, 2012 | Categories: Awareness, Inspiration, Phantoms, Photography, Poetry | Tags: anxiety, awareness, cafe, culture, depression, documentary, health, inspiration, mental health, Miami, outdoors, photography, poetry, psychotherapy, recovery, social commentary, spiritual, street life, technology, therapy, women | 10 Comments