New year… new haiku from Issa
January 16, 2018
“The year’s first butterfly full of swagger” is a Japanese stylized butterfly riddle design… where the spider’s web is caught in the butterfly’s wings. Haiku by Issa, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2018.
Bee and berries
November 14, 2017
A Bear roamed the woods in search of berries. He happened upon a fallen tree in which a swarm of bees had stashed their honey. The Bear began to nose around the log very, very carefully to see if the Bees were at home.
Just then one of the swarm happened home from the berry patch with a load of sweet pollen. Guessing what the Bear was after, the Bee flew at him, stung him sharply. Then he disappeared into the hollow log.
The Bear lost his temper and sprang upon the log attacking tooth and claw, hoping to destroy the nest, but this only brought out the whole swarm. The poor Bear took to his heels and ran. He only saved himself by diving into the nearby stream.
The weakest united may make for a strong alliance of protection. Overlooking the fact that many bees united can make even the strongest creature uncomfortable, it would be wiser to bear a single injury in silence than to provoke a thousand by flying into a rage.
Note: No animals were actually stung in the telling of this fable.
The Sun Never Says…
May 22, 2017
“Even after all this time, the sun never says to the earth, ‘You owe me.’ Look what happens with a love like that, it lights the whole sky.” Words, “The Sun Never Says,” by Hafiz, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.
For Mom and Dad…
February 14, 2017
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Let the love in your heart grow tall like a tree and shine bright like the sun, heart tree design inspired by a medieval design by Meredith Eliassen, 2017.
Día de los Muertos (“Day of the Dead”)
November 2, 2016
“Grace went searching for the first couple who dared to open their eyes in Eden.” Poem called “Evolution” by Gabriel Zaid and imaginary “Eden” designed by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.
Día de los Inocentes (“Day of the Innocents”)
November 1, 2016
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right heart within me.” Words from Psalms 51: 10, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.
Who is this Lady Luck?
September 22, 2016
My mother has been telling me about the “lady friend” of Lucky the Lizard for several months now… and she always refers to her as Lady Luck. This past weekend she finally described Lady to me in a way that I could picture her. Though the description changes with Lady’s mood and backdrop from her having gray and black stripes to Pokka dots remains the same… I am not yet convinced that she is part of Lucky’s posse, because she is reportedly pissed whenever he goes on his travels… whatever.
Lady Luck, a lizard in Sedona, Arizona, as seen by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.
The one constant in descriptions of Lady’s tail… you see… is that she lost it and it grew back gray. Nobody knows the story, and she won’t tell. Maybe a hawk stole it, or a lightening bolt hit her, or she was not fast enough in exiting my parents’ place and one of the poodles took a bite out of her (though they are both gentlemen, really…) Whatever her story might be, her tail grew back, you see, and life goes on…
As this description filled my thought, a true picture emerged of Lady Luck as a survivor in the desert, as the lizard that captured Lucky’s heart when he first saw her in the light of morning dawn as she perched on the Red Rock. Not only was her tail regrown but she was transformed into a critter, more strong, more beautiful, and energized.
The Lesson of the Flying Fish…
May 7, 2016
“Flying Fish,” inspired by a circular fish motif from a medieval manuscript, was designed by Meredith Eliassen, 2016. TO PURCHASE NOTECARD
The flying fish originally had no wings, but having an ambitious and discontented nature, she repined at always being confined to the waters and hoped to soar in the air.
“If I could only fly like the birds!” She thought, I should not only see more of nature’s beauty, but I should be able to escape from those fish that are continually pursuing me that make me so miserable.”
The little fish petitioned Jupiter for a pair of wings and immediately felt her fins expand. They grew to be the length oh her body and were so strong. That she soon took on an air of disdain that her former companions did not appreciate, and soon felt herself exposed to new dangers. When flying in the air, she was first pursued by a tropical bird and then by an albatross. Distraught, she returned to the ocean, so fatigued by her flight, that she was less able to escape the larger fish.
Finding herself even more unhappy than she had been before, she returned to Jupiter and begged him to return to her original state.
Jupiter responded: When I granted you your wings, I knew they would prove to be a curse, but your proud and restless disposition deserved this disappointment. Therefore, what you begged as a favor, keep as a punishment!”
Source: John Aikin (1747-1822) and Anna Lætitia Barbauld (1743-1825), Evenings at home, or, The juvenile budget opened (New-York : Harper & Brothers, 82 Cliff-Street, 1839.) Barbauld was unable to publish because of her political stances, and collaborated with her brother to get this book published.
More from the Hermit… no, not me, Robert Lax
May 5, 2016
IDENTITY. “our identity is bound with our memories: wash away memory and identity disappears… only to reappear with our next action.” Words by Robert Lax (1915-2000) from “In the Beginning was Love: Contemplative Words of Robert Lax,” edited with an introduction by S. T. Georgiou (2015), design by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.
Cleaning House
March 30, 2016
Chaucer’s got it right, in taking care of our own business, we demonstrate our truth.
“Ruele wel thyself, that other folk canst rede and trouthe thee shall delivere, it is no drede.” Quote from Geoffrey Chaucer, 1343-1400, drawing inspired by illuminated manuscript by Meredith Eliassen, 2016.
I will be taking a brief hiatus to clean house and should return in May. Thanks for visiting this blog. I look forward to more adventures in the future.
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