A Desert of Extremes

(c) Jeff Herman 2021

I lose a bit of myself every time I wander the desert regions, both near and afar.

My family traveled to Jordan recently to visit my son Nash, who at the time was studying for a semester there. Wadi Rum in southern Jordan is amazing. None of us had seen or imagined such a place, a truly one-of-a-kind region. T.E. Lawrence of course spent some time here, we did some cursory reading about the: The Kings, the Fighters, the Bedouins.

Desert inspirations come to me, hover in my head, and then I attempt to bring my minds impressions and thoughts into, and create object d’art: Paintings/poetry/etc.

For now…

A Black Cross

A BLACK CROSS HANGS
ACROSS HER BREAST
HER EYES REST NEAR
HER ON FROZEN GROUND
THE SILENCE TODAY CAUSES
MY TEARS TO FLOW
MY HAND TREMBLES
WHEN I RECALL
THE DARK LANDSCAPE
PART OF ME IS DEAD
LYING AT THE BOTTOM
OF A GORGE
ON THE BANKS OF
THE RIO GRANDE
SOMEWHERE THAT NIGHT
BETWEEN SANTA FE AND TAOS
I LOST MYSELF
ONE BY ONE
ROUND RIVER STONES
MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE SEA

© Last Century Jeff Herman (1996)
Media: Charcoal and Conté Crayon w/printer ink on paper

#JeffHermanPoetry #JeffHermanPainting #JeffHermanMetafiction #Taos #HyakutakeComet

Jeff Herman, Angel Peak Badlands, New Mexico

Jeff Herman, Angel Peak Badlands, New Mexico  © Eric Scott Wilmoth Photography September 2018

I took a much needed trip into New Mexico with Eric Scott Wilmoth (photographer), in September 2018 to record our individual impressions of the landscape, people, and the myths associated with New Mexico’s long and interesting history(s).  A single artist’s pursuit of this task, can barely scratch the surface in this, or any other part of the world. One person cannot but experience very little of the world we travel through. We traveled into the landscape for a short time, and produced a small record of the endeavor.  I am pictured here above in the light of a waxing gibbous moon (an eight second exposure). Not a lot of stars could be seen because of the moon’s brightness, hence the Ray bans. I want to believe I am looking into a future filled with new artworks, photos, and writing as an artist. I might as well start anew again!

As far away

As far away

 

…over run with

bullet points, lists

-of tasks both

real and imagined

internal voices, external

voices: pleading, needing

bleeding…

Outside, spending time alone

drilling down into self.

Depart, subtract, separate

-find a place alone

as far away from

humanity by physical space

as possible,

stay apart. It takes effort.

Listening to your voice

in your head, your voice

-your own voice makes the choice.

2011-02-07                                                             © Jeff Herman

Ice Bombs

Ice Bombs

LARGE GRAY BANDS OF THUNDER HEADS
LIKE THE STEEL UNDERSIDE OF A SUPERTANKER…

REMEMBERING–
…WITH AMAZEMENT A DIVER WATCHES HIS
EXHALED BREATH ASCEND TO THE SURFACE
BUBBLES BOMBARDING THE STEEL
HULK 100+ FEET ABOVE, THIS
FROM THE SHELF FLOOR, 2 MILES OFF
OAHU‘S SHORE, THE TURQUOISE PACIFIC…

TODAY–
…MOISTURE COLLECTS ON DUST, AND COMBINES
IN THE HIGHEST REACHES OF THE DARK TURQUOISE
CLOUDS…FREEZING, THE CIRCULAR WINDS AND
HIGH ALTITUDE ENLARGE THE ICE, UNTIL
THE THERMALS COOL SENDING A TORRENT OF
ICE BOMBS TO THE EXPANSIVE PLAIN
IT’S SUMMER, AND I’VE RETURNED…

1990-07-20 © Jeff Herman

Hot Faded Light Blue Sky

Hot Faded Light Blue Sky

ONE DAY WHEN NEITHER OF US HAD TO GO TO WORK, WAS A
DAY THAT WAS UNUSUALLY WARM FOR THIS TIME AND PLACE.
AFTER A GRAND BREAKFAST COOKED FOR YOU,
YOU FALL ASLEEP ON THE FLOOR,
AND I ON OUR LOW PROFILED BED.
AS HOT AS IT IS, SLEEP IS AWARE OF THE SLIGHTEST RUSTLE
OF LEAVES. AFTER READING A SHORT STORY ABOUT A MOTHER
WHO LOOSES TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE WAVES…

…I DREAM OF A DRY CALIFORNIA HILLSIDE WITH TWO OR THREE GREEN,
BUT DRY OAK TREES BLENDING THEIR PROFILES AGAINST THE SHAPES OF CLOUDS, FAR OFF IN THE DISTANCE.
THERE ARE NO CATTLE GNAWING AT THE DUSTY DRY GRASS.
NO BIRDS IN THE HOT SKY.
I CAN ONLY FEEL THE PRESENCE OF THE MANY INSECTS,
ALWAYS BUSY IN THE SCORCHED EARTH–

…JUST AS MY HEART FEELS THE EMPTINESS OF THE SCENE,
I AWAKE TO THE SAME HEAT. MY MOUTH IS DRY,
AND AS THE LONELINESS OF THE FADING SCENE GROWS,

I SEE YOU AGAIN ASLEEP ON THE FLOOR–

I AM HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH YOU…

1989-04-09                                                                           © Jeff Herman

recognition club

recognition club

“…are the masks we wear manifestations of our desires

…or reflections of our fears?

a mask is both. it may be a ticket

to belong or not belong,

but is always a foot in the door

at the recognition club…”

1989-10-31                                                     © Jeff Herman