"All Things New" [Reflections on Chris Orwig's Book Visual Poetry - Chapter 7 - Generally] (Proverbs 22:29)
I had not shot a wedding since the TCK appeared,
As basis of my point of view, perspective that has cleared;
My focus of attention, giving meanings to the pix,
Was someone else’s vision, so my pictures were just clicks.But now I’m hearing, “Think again – what is this all about?”
Take culture’s varied meanings, then press into realm of doubt;
Ask questions of the visitors, the gathered kith and kin,
And let their answers feed your mind, enrich the space you’re in.Now culture has a meaning which it did not hold before –
“Third layer on the social cake”; “kaleidoscope”; and more;
As TCK, who else is one? Will they be adding in
More mixtures to the world’s supply as something new begins?Anticipate in retrospect; dig down beneath today;
Engage with them as they affirm a journey underway;
Is Spirit seen as basic, or as icing on the cake
(Quite optional, if you’d prefer to physically relate)?One lady says to find some aspect others do not see;
Or hold up as the central point of what has come to be,
In snapshot of a slice in time, as sub-community
Affirms itself at this event – much more than simply “me”.Lord, all this talk of cultures moves it far beyond its start –
Returning photo-journalists from World War II, in part
Used former skills, like poison gas transformed to wipe out bugs,
To chronicle new brides and grooms with surface scenes of love.It’s like a whole new challenge has emerged for me today –
Such artifacts of culture need exploring in this way;
Magnificent – I’m at the start of something rather big,
With all the past as prologue – to excel I’ll have to dig.Of course it matters not what ceremony that is shot,
Or aspects of community or culture that we’ve got;
Just shoot what now emerges as society re-forms –
Three layer cake indeed – with its kaleidoscopic norms.Thanks Lord for this.
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