Little Moments
thoughts on photos
I am no visual artist.
I’ve never practiced, have hand-writing so bad that it’s illegible even to me, and frankly have never had more than a passing urge to draw…anything.
Sure it’d be cool to hand draw that image in my head of the castle I’m trying my best to translate to prose, but on second thought, maybe I should totally try and pick up drawing…
But my relationship with photography is the same as my relationship with poetry. I care about my fiction writing skills. I read books looking for plot signposts. I watch movies to deepen my understanding of how characters round out. I listen to lyrics and dissect why the lyrics to Taylor Swift’s Exile work so god damn well…shit didn’t mean to say that out loud…
I’m digressing as I’m often guilty of doing. What was I saying?
Ohh yeah photos and poetry–they are things that I do but not things that I am.
But I do have a nice camera roll full of travel and dog pictures now that we all carry a very passable camera around with us. Anyone can be a photographer when the subject is the love of your life, and the backdrop is Versailles. Perks of the modern world I suppose.
Every once and awhile though, you can catch lightning in a bottle. A photo that hits like a line from your favorite novel. (For those wondering, mine’s “Spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!”).
I have a habit whenever I’m asked to take someone's picture of snapping a bunch before they’re ready. Call it a quirk. Call it an asshole move. Both are acceptable.
That's how I nailed the subject of this piece.
We’d, I was there with my parents and brother, spent all day at the British Museum (no, I won’t be offering commentary. Move along).
You probably read that as “we spent a lot of time at the museum.”
But I spent my entire childhood wanting to be Indiana Jones.
So when I say “We’d spent all day at the British Museum,” I mean, we literally got there when it opened, and left when it closed.
Hungry, thirsty, back and foot sore, we stumbled into a lovely pub I wish I could recall the name of. A few pints and chips later and all was well in the world as we discussed all the little tidbits we’d learned from countless little plaques. Six years on, I couldn’t tell you why I had my camera open (I think it was to let my sister know what she was missing out on like a good asshole little brother) when I snapped this picture.
Nestled after all the artifact pictures, and before all the pictures from the tower of London lays this quick, candid moment of joy.
I’ll cherish it forever.
***
When the world is heavy
Full of moments of doubt
Take a breath
And seek times of merry
If you don’t enjoy the moment
You might just forget
Life’s just a ride
From sun up to set
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A/N:
Written for the challenge below:
If you've enjoyed this, please leave a like and an insight below. If you really enjoyed this, tips to fuel my coffee addiction are always appreciated. All formatting is designed for desktops. Want to read more? Below are the best of the very best of my works:
About the Creator
Matthew J. Fromm
Full-time nerd, history enthusiast, and proprietor of arcane knowledge.
Here there be dragons, knights, castles, and quests (plus the occasional dose of absurdity).
I can be reached at [email protected]
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Comments (8)
I'm so glad we can still be friends cos I can't draw for shit. In fact, I still have an unofficial challenge with Marie to complete a drawing and share it on Vocal even though the challenge is up. I am also a lover of museums and if I ever had the chance to go to British Museum, yeeeeeeeeeah I know that should have been done years ago, but I had other stuff on my agenda...maybe?, I'd have spent all day there. I also have the worst handwriting in the world. Like. there is a reason I became a writer for online content lol. And there is a reason I mostly type, even when trialing and plotting or whatever planning stages I might name my poetry writing. Regardless, so good to know you, and Shaun are part of the elite squad of writers who can't actually physically write so anyone could read lol. I wasn't surprised and maybe it's because you've told me before, that your fave line from a book is from LOTR or that particular sequence. haha. Fair play it is an awesome line and a reminder to me to buy LOTR next time I am investing in more dead trees with ink. See....I can also sidestep a conversation with the best of them. Back to this piece, that picture is awesome and nice to see the Fromms which MAtthew came....fromm. See what I did there? Of course you do. See. I am also an asshole. This is why we are friends. Those pints look tasty - please tell me they were something other than godawfulbutokayatapush Carling. lol. Sorry it took me long enough to get to this - and well done on it. It was awesome as ever. Love a good Fromm journally-piece as much as one set in a dusty old castle with secrets in the walls and a wizard arguing with a troll or rock monster.
Like the narrative to build the interest before the reveal.
Sounds you had a great trip. I relate to having terrible handwritting, and people are always complaining about the photos I take, either chopping the top of peoples heads off or having trees sticking out of the tops of their heads.
I'd like to say I'm surprised your favorite line from a novel is a quote from Lord of the Rings, but I'm also not surprised your idea of fun is open to close at a museum. Your stories reveal your passions well. I do love the photo of your parents. They both look like the type of people I'd love to get stuck sitting next to on a six hour flight. By the end, your mom and I would be new besties.
I too am a member of the eligible handwriting club. I fear the day that I decide to go back through my journals to mine any of the ideas that I’ve jotted down. No say go for giving that castle drawing a try! The worst thing can happen is you get to put it on the refrigerator and blame it on a child
Matthew, I swear you could write about a napkin and I would find it fascinating. This is wonderful, of course you had me with the LOTR quote. (So many great lines in those books) Plus now I want to go to the British museum. ( bucket list …added) Cheers my friend
Matthew, it's stunning. These are the photos that become the priceless heirlooms of our lives. You've caught something so precious and fleeting, it brings tears to my eyes. Thank you for opening up and creating a beautiful poem to accompany it! The playfulness and joy of the photo are mirrored in your words. Bravo!
That photo definitely speaks of JOY. What a wonderful one to use as a prompt and a great poem to accompany it.