Friday, 6 November 2009

Glenmore Road, Tuesday


Stifling heat settled in early
With the mercury rising inexorably
into the high thirties.
A refugee from another time and another continent
shuffled alone along the footpath
clutching his pastries in a plain plastic bag,
His black felt bowler sitting incongruously
with velcroed sneaker, flapping shirt-sleeve
and crumpled trouser cuffs.

25 comments:

  1. Oh Julie. This is such a poignant photo. I want to go take his arm. One of your best I think.
    V

    ReplyDelete
  2. Such a beautiful picture Julie!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great picture.... it only bothers me ever so slightly the large umbrella on his head.... now I cant see him without it :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. VJ: Thank you. I feel sure you would have loved the view of him that I glimpsed from the newsagency causing me to fumble/dash out behind him.

    Lois: Taa

    Sean: mmm ... a qualitative difference between "bothers" and yesterday's "disturbs"? But seriously, yes the umbrella was a pain. But it sort of added to the overwhelming intensity of the 37.8C day.

    ReplyDelete
  5. A very moving photo Julie, and one that could only achieve what you have by using black and white. I feel sad for this man - his stooped shoulders tell a story. Yet he is accepting. Brings tears to my eyes.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Beautiful image. Your text puts it in a league of its own!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Julie, the photo is great but the words make all the difference. They tell the wider story and point out all the little details that can be missed in a cursory glance. I'm in awe.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yes, this is a super photo. But I want to know when you took my picture behind my back!

    ReplyDelete
  9. your poetry and photos are excellent!

    ReplyDelete
  10. This is wonderful...it doesn't make me sad though, this is life on a hot sunny day..and even this gentleman considers it better than the alternative...his pastries say it all.
    Every picture you take is laden with possibilities Julie!

    ReplyDelete
  11. It's been a hard day, Julie, and to open up this image and read your words made me a little weepy. But in a very good way. Thank you for this. It's a lovely gift you've given us.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great photo with excellent poetry Julie !

    ReplyDelete
  13. Great: all of it.
    The atmosphere is so powerful I feel like I'm walking right behind him.

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a beautiful photo and I love the story with it. I am going to follow you.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm enjoying your forays into b&w. Another moving shot.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Forgot to answer your question - yes it is low cloud, was a really strange morning, looked like a storm was coming over at first, the sky just after dawn was really dark. I have another shot taken in the same area of a hill with a band of cloud across its middle.

    ReplyDelete
  17. At first, I thought this was an eccentric man with a parasol. Then I realised his hands were full with other objects.

    Nice shot in black and white.

    ReplyDelete
  18. this picture is so dramatic, congratulations.

    ReplyDelete
  19. At first I thought he was carrying an umbrella. The description made me feel as though I was walking right along with him.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love your photo and the poem captures the details perfectly

    ReplyDelete
  21. He looks like someone I know. I bet he has good stories to tell, if he is willing to tell.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thank you for your many comments and appreciation of this photograph.

    I move into this street by the end of next week. I do hope I meet this gentleman again.

    ReplyDelete