Friday 2 June 2017

Morning by the Fountain
Viennese Moments

Some mornings
leave you feeling like Atlas
carrying the weight
of the world,
when that simple
"splash of water on the face" *
turns out to be a torrent instead
and you feel as if you'll never again be
"buzzing around the house on espresso" *


Mornings
when your Muse
has a hard time inspiring you


leaving you
with nothing but an amphora
of plain water
to wash away


the bitterness
you felt
while sipping your espresso
this morning


Photographed on the morning of 11 May 2010
at the fountain in front of the Austrian Parliament
Ringstrasse
and at Demel's, Kohlmarkt
Originally published 11 May 2010
Images and text © by Merisi

* My own poem, the lines "splash of water on the face" and "buzzing around the house on espresso"
reflect the beloved "Morning" poem by Billy Collins

34 comments:

  1. A brilliant and topical post Merisi. Mr Brown is packing his bags in No. 10 as I type this comment.

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  2. Even here in Vienna, there was no escaping Mr. Brown's likeness on the title pages of newspapers.

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  3. Great photos! I like so much the quotes.
    Have a nice week ahead.

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  4. Great post. Even the spoon is in a sour mood.

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  5. Sonia a. Mascaro,
    you can read the entire poem by clicking on "Billy Collins"! And a wonderful week to you too!

    Tracy,
    I am so thrilled you noticed that I turned the spoon upside down! *giggles* It's the small things, isn't it?

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  6. Beautiful AND clever! How does she do it!

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  7. With my 85mm lens, Vicki! :-)

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  8. Just looking at those wonderful fountain statues has inspired me to write about the sea and quite possibly, mermaids and mermen.

    Now to get a nice cup of coffee to settle in and catch up on your previous posts.

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  9. Are you feeling a tad bitter, or do you makes inferences about the emotions of our just-past Prime Minister?

    What a brilliant post.
    When I feel the weight of the world, I try to go back to bed . . . but I don't suppose Mr. Brown had that option!

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  10. Some mornings I feel like that statue of Atlas too and nothing seems to help.
    I really don't know how you do such amazing posts all the time. Very topical and totally interesting. Always an adventure and a pleasure to visit you Merisi.

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  11. Anonymous12 May, 2010

    Barbara Martin,
    I am so glad I was able to show you the statues!
    Aren't they beautiful? The face of the woman, fascinating, isn't it?

    It is always such a pleasure walking from the metro station past the parliament and then cutting through the Volksgarten's Rose Garden and on to Demel. I had not done that in months, the greater the pleasure yesterday!

    Bee,
    I felt as happy as a sandboy, Bee! After all, yesterday was the first morning in a long time that I felt I could steal a few hours away from either working on projects or studying. :-)

    I spun this little story around the day's news that the Prime Minister would resign, and it was his coffee that I was making references to (even though he may well have had a cup of tea! *smile*), surmising from the turn of events that he must have felt somewhat bitter.

    Cheers,
    Merisi

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  12. photowannabe,
    oh yes, we all do, and it is such grace when we manage to keep going nonetheless.
    Sue, creating a blog post is easy, when and if I have the time to indulge in some whimsy. Knowing that someone out there will have fun with it makes it even easier! :-)


    Cathy,
    thank you! :-)))

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  13. I love how you incorporate your pictures into poems. You really make it work and the photos are gorgeous.

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  14. I am always amazed about how clean the statues are, as if they'd just stepped out of the artist's workshop.

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  15. Bitterness is certainly what I am feeling this morning... your beautiful photos are the only panacea.

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  16. Loree,
    thank you! :-)

    Spacedlaw:
    I'll look for statues that have not been renovated recently! ;-)

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  17. Gavin,
    my heart goes out to you!
    I wonder where we'd be without those horrendous wars still going on.

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  18. Merisi,

    You are brilliant! I love the way you tie your photos together into photo essays...You not only capture gorgeous images...you always give me something beautiful or profound to ponder! Loved this!

    Love, Janine XO

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  19. Wow, your timing, your verse, your images, the newspaper in print there for you, wonderful post~

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  20. I love how you photographed the muse. She has such a wonderful face!

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  21. Superb captures of such magnificent fountains, Merisi!! Thanks as always for sharing the wonderful beauty of your world!!

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  22. Such beautiful details in that fountain, Merisi!

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    1. Yes, the fountain is mesmerisingly beautiful!

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  23. Beautifully sculpture Marisa, lovely pictures and lovely words..

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  24. I just caught up on all of your beautiful posts, Merisi. Gorgeous statues - I love her expression in photo #2. Not sure I'm understanding the political references, but I am enjoying the photos!

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    1. "Cameron Takes Over as British Premier After Brown Resigns" (Headline of 11 May 2010)

      Amy, it shouldn't be political, just alluding to the day's news, how many in Britain were feeling, not least Mr Brown, who had just resigned.

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  25. this is my lazy morning, i dont care if the muse is playing coy .. i slept in, made some coffee and sat with the cats as they oogled the sparrows and house finches and sipped my coffee enjoying it tho i know if i was there it would have tasted even better sharing it with you

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  26. A lovely summers day comes to mind....

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  27. Beautifully sculpture and great post Mersi

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