23 Comments
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Cally Yeatman's avatar

This week the corncrakes have arrived with cuckoos and I’ve seen a tern. Last night sandmartins skimmed the sea ahead of me as I swam towards the sun set.

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Samantha Clark's avatar

Oh, I haven't heard a corncrake here for 7 years...I'm keeping watch for the arctic terns, though no sign yet. Plenty of sandmartins and swallows though!

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Rosalind's avatar

What a beautiful poem by Margaret Tait, thank you for sharing it. And Robert Macfarlane on shimmering is superb, as usual. And all this reflected in your art. Wonderful.

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Samantha Clark's avatar

The poem is an absolute peach, isn't it! And yes, Robert MacFarlane is always good, but Tim Lilburn is a source I go back to time and time again.

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Harriet Mason's avatar

This was gorgeous to read in bed this morning with a cup of tea, especially the thoughts on shimmering. I’ll carry them with me as I walk slowly through my day. Thank you!

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sarah goudie's avatar

Thank you Sam - beautiful read and content. Am sorry to miss the last few Wed afternoon meet ups - hope to return again soon... May Day Warm wishes, Sarah.

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Samantha Clark's avatar

Coma again soon, Sarah, but not next week as I'm away and the Life Raft won't be sailing!

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Caroline Mellor's avatar

A gorgeous, shimmering read. Thanks, Samantha

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Samantha Clark's avatar

You are so very welcome, Caroline!

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Bridget Godwin's avatar

This was an incredibly gorgeous post, thank you so much. I love your writing. I linked to a recent post of yours in a post of mine and wanted to share: https://open.substack.com/pub/bridgetgodwinmd/p/when-time-stood-still?r=g11cp&utm_medium=ios

Thank you for your beautiful observations of the world. They help me see it for what it truly is.

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Samantha Clark's avatar

Oh, thank you for the link, Bridget and lovely to find such synergies!

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Ann Buffum's avatar

Seems to me that you do capture the gorgeous shimmering world in your paintings. That’s what makes them so unique.

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Samantha Clark's avatar

Thank you Ann!

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Barbara's avatar

Absolutely love this short piece. I am always fascinated by shimmering light on surfaces and could spend hours watching it! One of the reasons why I love being by water and especially the sea so much! Thank you!

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Samantha Clark's avatar

Thank you Barbara. Yes, it's hypnotic isn't it?

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Liza Green's avatar

Conjures up all that is wonderful about living by the sea in clean fresh air, the paintings are joyful too!

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Samantha Clark's avatar

Thank you Liza, yes, I hope they are joyful...

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anna parker's avatar

Another beautiful essay Sam. Thank you for sharing x

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Samantha Clark's avatar

Thank you Anna!

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Lorna Dallas-Conte's avatar

I imagine shoals of wraiths thin, sea sprits, slipping, playing in the water, dipping out of sight and then joyously shouting as they reemerge, light borne and laughing to each other.

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Samantha Clark's avatar

Water beings, dancing!

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Billy Mann's avatar

Loved all of this.

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Rebecca Cook's avatar

This is a lovely piece. Thanks for sharing. I esp. love this-- "It is easy to relegate iridescence purely to the realm of the aesthetic. But…I have come to think of it less as a form of beauty and more as a mode of being: life, re-located to the interface;"

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