songs of nightshade and honey
Autumn
You spear your nightshade hair knot with a wooden spoon and slide vinyl onto the record player. You pick a tearose apron from your collection and bake black cherry pie laced with shots of dark rum and honey. You sneak little balls of sugary dough to me and I wonder who we’re keeping our secret from. The overwhelming richness of the flavour makes my mouth ache. I stretch out on your worn velvet window seat with an atlas and pretend I know how to navigate my way through uncharted seas. You sway and wail along with Nina Simone to the crackling strains of Strange Fruit. My eyes well at the sound of her voice succumbing to the coercion of the record needle. I watch you behind the spine in my hands spilt open between the Pacific Ocean; a fever the shade of the cherry juice dripping through your fingers creeps around my bones.
copyright © 2009, Holly Ringland
Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints
roybarry
Wow, Holly-you’re exploring a rich seam of creativity lately!
Holly Ringland replied
roy! i don’t know what’s going on! the flood gates have opened! it’s this bloody enchanting country you live in… =)
roybarry
The enchanted kingdom!!!
Get yourself to Wales-the land of song and literature!
Holly Ringland replied
what… there’s MORE??? i’ve only explored a thimble-full of the enchanted kingdom roy and i’m already soaked up to my eyeballs in song and literature… that’s it, i knew it.. i’m actually going to self-combust from too much inspiration… sincerely yours, piglet in happy mud.
Lisa Jewell
Sublime….I love all the textures. Beautifully old worldly…xx
Holly Ringland replied
ohhhhhh lisa jewell… (i just love saying it, i could say it all day, skipping through sunshine or puddles and i would still be golden happy)... consider this a sonnet for you, my lovely xo
Lisa Jewell
hehe thanks Holly….I wish you could see my smile xxx
Holly Ringland replied
oh but darling i can… the sun can never set on a glow that gilded dear girl. revel in it, you deserve nothing less xxx
lianne
So very wonderful Holly – such a perfect compliment to the magical story you’ve woven for us! A feeling of depth, hidden mystery, and something priceless here! Just gorgeous!
Holly Ringland replied
thank you so much sweetheart. my mind is on fire and overflowing with the tale of these two… the images have been coming to me thick and fast… thank you for soaking them into your skin with me… as always lianne x
PJ Ryan
You sneak little balls of sugary dough to me and I wonder who we’re keeping our secret from
beautiful, love the exquisite mystery of this image, the sweetness of the words beside .. beautiful vinyl spinning incredible artistry x
Holly Ringland replied
i’m so glad you feel the mystery here nix… i too feel like i’m sometimes locked out of the secret language that goes on in this story between these two… beautiful vinyl... that gave me goosebumps. dear lord, how i miss you. get cam onto sorting out your web cam asap would you? ;)
love you girl x
Leith O'Malley
I hope diabetics don’t read you ;)
This is laiden with so much the good sweet stuff Holly.
Only one thing I would change.. As much as I love Nina Simone, Billie owns Strange Fruit for me ;)
Holly Ringland replied
truth me told, i walk away with a stomach ache myself sometimes, o’malley… so rich are the tales to be told… this series has taken root in my mind and spilled into all overgrown corners of words gardens… i know billie is the undisputed queen of strange fruit…but leith… have you heard nina’s ‘65 recording? gah… i actually have to stop myself from dribbling, honestly. but i understand the billie loyalty… and you can change this as you need and let her own it. i don’t mind :)
William Hallatt
An excellent creation!
Roy Wilkins
love this