“These Pictures As They Seem to Me” [[Reflections on: Berger, John and Mohr, Jean, with help from Nicholas Philbert, Another Way of Telling, NY: Pantheon Books, 1982, 308p. – section 3]


These photos of “the lady’s” life (for me),
Are layers two – ’fore we their “stories” see
As photo man (role “one” of four he lists
In preface, one, of which there works consists).

The second layer jumbles “two – three – four” –
That’s photographed”, “the viewer”, “what it’s for”;
For I made pictures, just like this galore,
In Sandy and Keewatin (lots before).

My black and whites from Sandy I left there;
They got destroyed (that’s passive), no one cared,
Except that roll still in my last cassette
With St. John pic, Your gift – the best one yet.

For pictures do belong to those folks there,
To keep, destroy, neglect – do not despair,
It was a part of Britain’s crushing daze (sic).
“Use good folks’ altruism, twisted ways.”

But that was in my days ’fore “evil’s coach”
Came real to me, he suffered no reproach
From me, for he existed-not those days;
But now I sense his theme, “How evil pays”.

And “Might makes right”; “With Jesus on our side
We’ve got our entry ticket, just abide
In Jesus’ graces (paid our ticket in) –
With bread and wine, baptism, no more sin”.

We pick and choose the parts of Scripture’s tome
To focus on, and bless the roads we roam;
Condemning “cherry-pickers” all the while,
Which lets us sally forth with righteous smiles.

I bought the package focused on the “left”,
That’s social-action – “Grow up like the rest –
Be nice – but stay on top – house, car, and kids –
Work hard – relax – be nice – and ‘God forgives’.”

Well that worked fine, ’till wall of culture shock
Stopped fancy righteous way this fellow talked;
Sent to me for help from language coach of mine,
Who introduced the “other half” in time.

I checked it out – read Scripture, Wesley, Knox;
It was all there, corrective to my walk;
Transformed me, best thing ever in my life,
Though different from my kinfolk, colleagues, wife.

Then later, “TCK” emerged for me
As basis of my quested “mystery”,
Which opened up a better way for me
In cultured world, than “King of mountain, be”.

These photos speak of road from “Summer wood”
I left behind, once I had understood
Some deeper themes embedded in my craft;
“Made all the difference”, opened up my task.

So photos in their book? That’s what they mean
To me – just “Swiss”, not “native” I had seen;
“An elder re-constructs re-membered past
(Again – again – constructions seldom last)”.

“Community, congruency, and flow
Of a generations, how kids come to know –
‘Ahead’ – ‘behind’ – in endless cultured stream;
Tectonic plates, ’neath static life that’s seen.

“First way to abstract photo’s meaning bright,
Is cut all color (they have done that right);
Now everywhere our smart-phones click away,
But document in color – saves the day.

“Remembered life is black and white, I’d say –
‘You’re black; I’m white’ where evil has its way;
Roles ‘two – three – four’ are up to me, not you;
And ‘social games’ is what I’m going to do.

But Lord, You’ve held out vision far from bland
As good and evil battle in our land;
“Good’s coach”? Or more, an “engine” in our lives?
Engage; mature; ajust; obey – survive.

Thanks Holy Spirit for this.

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