Still point of the turning world

In thinking about the haiku form (see last post) I have been considering Japanese calligraphy and images which have a very calligraphic look to them. I also think of various Buddhist concepts, like Eliot’s “still point of the turning world,” in the Four Quartets.

At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless;
Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is,
But neither arrest nor movement. And do not call it fixity,
Where past and future are gathered. Neither movement from nor towards,
Neither ascent nor decline. Except for the point, the still point,
There would be no dance, and there is only the dance.

Here is a Bashō (considered by many the greatest practitioner of the haiku form):

One way or another, I think the image selection above (most taken on a walk to Caesar’s Camp in north Farnham) all have a kind of calligraphic, still feeling to them. Click any image to see them all full-sized.

Entrance to the Secret Garden

Strivers' Row, Harlem, New York
Strivers’ Row, Harlem, New York

There’s an alley that runs from Seventh Avenue to St Nicholas Avenues between 138th and 139th Streets through the middle of Strivers Row, a beautiful set of homes running around the block. We walked down the alley passing back gardens, sheds, terraces and garages.

Light Takes the Tree

Sixth Ave and Charlton St

Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

– Theodore Roethke