All Images & Text
Copyrighted 2013
Painting, "Mt Holyoke College Campus Pond" by DJ Marshall
" A Fall Wind, . . . Brought On April's Breeze"
The Valley Transit bus doors closed behind him, with sounds of
escaping air releasing its pressure. Leaves rose in tornado like swirls
in the Fall breeze. The old familiar sight of Rockefeller Hall caused him
to freeze. She was not there, though her smile and image in his mind
was more than he could bear.
The memories and images left his heart felt feelings in a bind.
Signs of a freshly dug ditch, in the lawn, spoiled the perfection of the
scene. Mt. Holyoke College was not as it was 40 years before. Its
perfection had a cost, therefore such things were thrown out the
door.
For this, he had slight concern, no more. Visions of a high
cheeked Cherokee Woman were still there to adore. His mind
tried to form credible reasons - - - such potential happiness
could have been so easily destroyed. The plethora of thoughts
proved too difficult to be deployed.
The scene was still right, for two souls to combine and start a
new life. Just not for him, in his old age with out a wife. Squirrels
in the leaves ran free, while all minds were still, also, allowed to
be. There was such lament, though hope that she would be allowed
to feel her life was well spent. With the time he had left, he had
decided to do all things, and see what was, as if it were all truly
meant.
by DJ Marshall
Copyrighted 2013
Painting, "Mt Holyoke College Campus Pond" by DJ Marshall
" A Fall Wind, . . . Brought On April's Breeze"
The Valley Transit bus doors closed behind him, with sounds of
escaping air releasing its pressure. Leaves rose in tornado like swirls
in the Fall breeze. The old familiar sight of Rockefeller Hall caused him
to freeze. She was not there, though her smile and image in his mind
was more than he could bear.
The memories and images left his heart felt feelings in a bind.
Signs of a freshly dug ditch, in the lawn, spoiled the perfection of the
scene. Mt. Holyoke College was not as it was 40 years before. Its
perfection had a cost, therefore such things were thrown out the
door.
For this, he had slight concern, no more. Visions of a high
cheeked Cherokee Woman were still there to adore. His mind
tried to form credible reasons - - - such potential happiness
could have been so easily destroyed. The plethora of thoughts
proved too difficult to be deployed.
The scene was still right, for two souls to combine and start a
new life. Just not for him, in his old age with out a wife. Squirrels
in the leaves ran free, while all minds were still, also, allowed to
be. There was such lament, though hope that she would be allowed
to feel her life was well spent. With the time he had left, he had
decided to do all things, and see what was, as if it were all truly
meant.
by DJ Marshall
Painting, "Puffer's Pond In Fall"(Robert Frost Trail) by DJ Marshall
"Skinner Park & Mt Sugar Loaf"
Mountains with a view guarded the "Happy Valley" for those that
needed a refuge. A river ran through it. Safe harbor, from social realities,
if you will. The desire for open minded education being the only thing
needed to pay the bill.
Skinner Park loomed over Smith & Mt Holyoke, and the truly sweet sight
of Sugar Loaf - - - lay above Sunderland, as a reminder that here lay the
end of the valley. From its peak, one was drawn to the U of Mass for the
future of anything- - - or to leap from its cliff, to put an end to that one thing.
Mt. Holyoke's peak housed many presidents, no doubt while they visited
their daughters, which to the Ivy League they had sent. Feasts of average
people continue there to this day. Dreams of the future pour forth, from
the minds of couples, who dare test the waters outside the valley.
The potential cruelty of failure lay everywhere at their feet. Did the
outside world have a heart, . . . one could not hear a beat. There was
only more and more pressure, and increasing heat. It sprang from no
mystery, when most said to each other, . . . "Let's go rent a small place,
. . . Study some more, and see if we can create a new space, from which
to peer out and truly see. " The Happy Valley was where they were meant
to be.
by DJ Marshall
"A Shimmer And A Ripple" by DJ Marshall
People and things come and go with a ripple and shimmer, . . . a ripple
and a shimmer, on the surface of Puffer's Pond brought forth feelings and
images of memories from the distant past. - - - And, with the help of some
fluttering black wings, sent them back to their hidden realm, as well, . . . for
their constant wait for the proper emotion to beckon their return.
Robert Frost himself, often came forth, - - - in as many shapes and forms,
as the number of those who beckon, . . . while they walk his trail. His peer,
Emily Dickenson, also comes and goes, on wing, with ebbs and flows in the
mind.
Places of Old Amherst also come to mind. - - - The A&P Food Mart, with
Auggies Tobacco Shop, once provided all one might wish to find. Old friends,
the vision of "Save The Drake, Willy" painted on the brick wall of an old
cinema. Jean Pierre, - - - a fixture lost to the west coast. April and Diane, the
vision of their smiles once graced the trail. An essence of lives past, for sure,
floated through the leaves.
All disappeared to the hidden realm, . . . though there was a constant
yearning to find the why and where of it all. Also, the wonder of, if and when
he too would begin to slide in and out of some one else's mind, . . . on a
fluttering wing, and shimmering wave, . . . in yet one more personal reality
of another.
DJ Marshall
Painting, Below, "Puffer's Pond"(Robert Frost Trail) by DJ Marshall
** Like a Portal Through Time, **
Framed by the branches of Sugar, Red, & Swamp maples, their summertime leaves, with varying
shades of green, gave the images they framed an essence of life as they seemed to flicker in his mind.
As if, . . . they were the product of an antique projector. People in canoes, and fishermen too along the
shores, came and went, with each new picture from the projector as he drew. Arms flailed in the water,
some sinking beneath the surface, never to return. Time unraveled at its own uncontrollable pace while
he painted. A portal in time, framed by the leaves of a wood, exposed what once was to, and in, his mind.
Paint flowed from his brushes, greens, browns, and shades of black with grey, as the painting was
born. Shades of blue filled the surface of the pond, and calmed images from the past into a smooth
reflecting pool. A hand rose from the middle, and beckoned come forth. The urge grew stronger, and
stayed deep within him, to see what lay beyond any, and all, reflecting pools.
by DJ Marshall
The Painting, "U-Mass Campus Pond" by DJ Marshall
"Campus Ponds"
Only from a distance did the water look fresh - - - little wind blown
waves shown blue, reflecting the image of the sky, giving cover to the
stagnant water below. Many white benches offered quite a few views.
The people too, from a distance, appeared to be fresh as the dew. Their
hair in the wind, was out of control as it blew.
Not a mind on the benches cared about their outward looks. They
were all lost in problems, and hadn't a care for how long solving them
took. The implications of failed tests,. . . which job offer to take, . . . or
possibly which man, or woman, to make. For some, their blank expressions
were much like the breeze covering over mere stagnant activity.
I sat and became part of the scene. Should I stay, or should I go?
Should I walk over there and pull that woman's toe? My somewhat
stagnant, and less than serious mind went with the flow. For a moment,
I thought I saw the flicker of a Black Bird's wings out of the corner of my
eye. It was such a peaceful place, not at all a bad place to sit and sigh.
However, in my mind I chose to fly - - - over all the people and things
that I have known, until on the horizon a future was exposed. And off
on another journey, I was soon to have flown.
by DJ Marshall
"Campus Ponds"
Only from a distance did the water look fresh - - - little wind blown
waves shown blue, reflecting the image of the sky, giving cover to the
stagnant water below. Many white benches offered quite a few views.
The people too, from a distance, appeared to be fresh as the dew. Their
hair in the wind, was out of control as it blew.
Not a mind on the benches cared about their outward looks. They
were all lost in problems, and hadn't a care for how long solving them
took. The implications of failed tests,. . . which job offer to take, . . . or
possibly which man, or woman, to make. For some, their blank expressions
were much like the breeze covering over mere stagnant activity.
I sat and became part of the scene. Should I stay, or should I go?
Should I walk over there and pull that woman's toe? My somewhat
stagnant, and less than serious mind went with the flow. For a moment,
I thought I saw the flicker of a Black Bird's wings out of the corner of my
eye. It was such a peaceful place, not at all a bad place to sit and sigh.
However, in my mind I chose to fly - - - over all the people and things
that I have known, until on the horizon a future was exposed. And off
on another journey, I was soon to have flown.
by DJ Marshall
Painting, "Pelham Hills"
by DJ Marshall
"Pelham Hills"
Heat on a July day formed a deep purplish blue haze, which was
engulfing the Pelham Hills. Hawks and Buzzards rode the updrafts, then
circled back to catch another, as if there was virtually nothing left in
life to do. This was the view from his sliding glass door, certainly one
for contemplation on any given day.
If they can rise to the occasion, he also felt obliged and headed for
the door. There were thoughts of wonder as to if he too looked like
a black dot through the purplish blue haze to the birds as they flew.
It was just one more testament to the fact, that the closer one gets to
what it is they are observing, the more they know of it, and begin to
understand its essence.
At times it was enough to simply watch them soar. At others, there
was a need to understand what it was all for. The drive to find out kept
all from being a bore, and it was the impetus behind all those who try
to explore.
by DJ Marshall
Painting "Puffer's Pond Dam & Water Fall"(Robert Frost Trail)
All Images & Text Copyrighted 2013
Painting "Puffer's Pond Dam & Water Fall"(Robert Frost Trail)
All Images & Text Copyrighted 2013
