3/10/2011

Random Heart in the Desert

Just walking in the desert...


I stumble upon a random heart for Clytie's Guest Heart Thursday:


The plant's skeleton makes a heart where the cactus isn't!
This brings to mind "the uses of not" from Ursula K. Le Guin's
translation of Lao Tzu's, Tao Te Ching:

Thirty spokes
meet in the hub.
Where the wheel isn't
is where it's useful.

Hollowed out,
clay makes a pot.
Where the pot's not
is where it's useful.

Cut doors and windows
to make a room.
where the room isn't,
there's room for you.

So the profit in what is
is in the use of what isn't.

16 comments:

SquirrelQueen said...

What a lovely heart to find on your desert walk.

I almost didn't see the place to post a comment, on my screen it's on top of one of the "You might also like" photos.

Magpie said...

Sometimes the simplest things are hidden from sight until we are shown a different way of looking at things. I love these words...
"Hollowed out,
clay makes a pot.
Where the pot's not
is where it's useful."

Clytie said...

I've often searched for words to describe 'where the cactus isn't'. I've seen hearts in the sky 'where the cloud isn't'; in the forest 'where the tree isn't' ... I'm so glad you found this translation of the "uses of not" that puts into words something so hard to describe! And I'm so glad you found the 'heart where the cactus isn't!'

Laura said...

Beautiful Diane! What an amazing heart discovery and lovely poem too. Thank you for the well wishes for the weekend. The catheter misses weren't so bad...good thing I know how to breath through discomfort!!! I love the nurse that comes to the house, she is so kind. She changed her schedule to suit my mini-getaway.

TexWisGirl said...

Oh thanks for stopping by my blog so I could follow you back here!!! LOVELY place you have here!!! I will enjoy following you!

Stephanie said...

That's a wonderful and profound poem :-D Now I realise what a hollow thing or an empty room can give us. Perhaps it all depends on what we wanted to do with it. Enjoy the weekend Dianne!

Anonymous said...

What a great find and a great description of something that isn't!

Dani said...

What a great heart find!

Darla said...

Incredible photos; how marvelous to find the heart in what isn't ... and thank you for sharing the quote ... her translation is now on my wish list as I continue to acquire various 'translations' of the Tao Te Ching -- one of those works that I return to again and again.

DIGITAL WORLD PAGES ARCHIVE said...

I agree with all these comments...Very beautiful ...

Martha Z said...

You find us so many interesting ideas to ponder; you do the work a graciously share the results with us.

Anonymous said...

Cool post. Thanks for sharing.

All the best, Boonie

Dejemonos sorprender said...

Hi! beautiful pictures.. silhouettes in the first are great!) and the heart is a really beautiful find)

DIGITAL WORLD PAGES ARCHIVE said...

Well done!Beautiful post!

DIGITAL WORLD PAGES ARCHIVE said...

The second photo is very interesting...

DIGITAL WORLD PAGES ARCHIVE said...

I wish all the bests to You and to Your family!