Tales of Innocence and Experience...(Fallen Angels)
The Falls on the Umatilla River, right near the tribal offices, was one of my favorite swimming holes. These two Huck Finns came sliding down together, and right into my camera.
If I ever knew their names, I'd forgotten them when I hung the image at Tamastslikt. the tribe's Cultural Center, in a photo show they called "Pictures of Our People". A comment left by a guest let me know that these happy youths--Bogene Ortiz and Jerry Spencer, did not live much longer.
They were cousins to my flickrfriend, Shekam, who wrote, "it's nice to see them innocent, smiling and having fun!" Sadly, their deaths came about through the influences of dark and difficult things. I'll say no more about that, knowing that if she cares to share more, she will.
The poetry of William Blake, his Songs of Innocence and Experience explores the path we all take--born innocent, sullied by the world though hard experience--and (hopefully) to ultimately arrive at a state of "inspired innocence" rooted in wisdom, "enlightened experience", where worldly knowledge guides us to make the judicious choices, based on a deeper understanding of Life's Lessons, our part in the Great Mystery, Conscious Awareness and Enlightenment.
Not everyone makes this journey. In your early years, the lack of a life jacket or bike helmet can be fatal; in your 20s, drugs, car wrecks, war and violence may bring you down. Get old enough, and you get to worry about heart disease and cancer. "You gotta play the hand that's dealt you, that's what the Old Man said"--Fallen Angel
.
Tales of Innocence and Experience...(Fallen Angels)
The Falls on the Umatilla River, right near the tribal offices, was one of my favorite swimming holes. These two Huck Finns came sliding down together, and right into my camera.
If I ever knew their names, I'd forgotten them when I hung the image at Tamastslikt. the tribe's Cultural Center, in a photo show they called "Pictures of Our People". A comment left by a guest let me know that these happy youths--Bogene Ortiz and Jerry Spencer, did not live much longer.
They were cousins to my flickrfriend, Shekam, who wrote, "it's nice to see them innocent, smiling and having fun!" Sadly, their deaths came about through the influences of dark and difficult things. I'll say no more about that, knowing that if she cares to share more, she will.
The poetry of William Blake, his Songs of Innocence and Experience explores the path we all take--born innocent, sullied by the world though hard experience--and (hopefully) to ultimately arrive at a state of "inspired innocence" rooted in wisdom, "enlightened experience", where worldly knowledge guides us to make the judicious choices, based on a deeper understanding of Life's Lessons, our part in the Great Mystery, Conscious Awareness and Enlightenment.
Not everyone makes this journey. In your early years, the lack of a life jacket or bike helmet can be fatal; in your 20s, drugs, car wrecks, war and violence may bring you down. Get old enough, and you get to worry about heart disease and cancer. "You gotta play the hand that's dealt you, that's what the Old Man said"--Fallen Angel
.