Sonatas XI-4 (Meeting)

A step upon some twigs and leaves awoke me from my reverie -
Four strangers and my wife at the forest’s entrance - near the Faerie Tree -
Khaetidawne came ahead of the four, in a soft quiet way,
She smiled at the strangers, took my hand whispering, “I have something to say.”

To the four curious strangers she smiled, “I’ll bring him right back!”
To me she whispered, “They’re not Seekers! They’re Doubters!
But I think I’ve got them on track.”

With a smile over her shoulder she pulled me toward the swing
The four ‘Doubters’ were frowning and grinning at us - one was laughing
“Come out of the forest! Come with me, by the swing!
“I have something I must tell you! It’s important - this thing!”

“They are Non-Believers,” Khaetidawne revealed in hurt and hushed tones,
“Some of them are Sarcastic Non-Seekers, I can feel it in my bones”
She shot a look at the ‘Non-Seekers’, and told me, “wish they’d go home!”

I looked at the four, and they looked back at me. I tried to hold back my grin
(Khaetidawne was in protective mode, much to my chagrin)
To them I asked, “Well, You’ve read my book; seen my pictures; what did you see?”
I smiled at them uneasily - whatever would their answers be?

The photo was taken in June of 2019 with a Minolta X-570 35 mm SLR equipped with a 50 mm f/1.7 Minolta MD lens on Ilford FP4+ film. The negative was enlarged optically with a Beseler 23CIIXL enlarger and a 50 mm f/2.8 Schneider Componon-S lens on Ilford Multigrade FB Classic Double Weight Fiber Base silver gelatin photo paper. Processing was done archivally using Kodak chemistry, with a final toning with Kodak Rapid Selenium Toner, treated with hypo clearing agent, and washed in an archival washer.

All aspects of this print were handled in an authentic, pre-digital manner. Archival processing will ensure the maximum life span for this print.

This print (1/25) on 8” x 10” paper is available for purchase, mounted or unmounted. Please contact me if interested. Thank You.