“Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”
~John Lewis
Redwoods Rising
Lone Oak
When Great Trees Fall
When great trees fall,
rocks on distant hills shudder,
lions hunker down
in tall grasses,
and even elephants
lumber after safety.
When great trees fall
in forests,
small things recoil into silence,
their senses
eroded beyond fear.
When great souls die,
the air around us becomes
light, rare, sterile.
We breathe, briefly.
Our eyes, briefly,
see with
a hurtful clarity.
Our memory, suddenly sharpened,
examines,
gnaws on kind words
unsaid,
promised walks
never taken.
Great souls die and
our reality, bound
to them, takes leave of us.
Our souls, dependent upon their nurture,
now shrink, wizened.
Our minds, formed and informed by their radiance,
fall away.
We are not so much maddened as reduced to the unutterable ignorance
of dark, cold caves.
And when great souls die,
after a period peace blooms, slowly and always
irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration.
Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us. They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better.
For they existed.”
~Maya Angelou
Fallen
Oak and Clouds
“Freedom is not a state; it is an act. It is not some enchanted garden perched high on a distant plateau where we can finally sit down and rest. Freedom is the continuous action we all must take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society.”
~John Lewis
Live Oaks and Morning Sun
“When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.”
~John Lewis
Live Oak and Spanish Moss
Angel Oak
“You must be bold, brave, and courageous and find a way… to get in the way.”
~John Lewis
Wow! You have a special way of seeing the world – and you manage to capture it beautifully. Greetings from Tasmania 🙂
Hi Tone, Thank you so much. Glad you enjoyed this one. You live in a beautiful part of the world. I visited Tasmania once and lived in Australia briefly. Appreciate you following me and I look forward to checking out your work. 😊
I hope I brought back many fond memories of your time in Australia. If you have a link to one of your posts about yout Tassie visit I would be interested to see it, or perhaps there’s a topic for a future post 🙂 All the best.
Thanks. My Tassie trip was pre-blog days but I have many of Australia that I’ve posted. I sure hope to get back to your part of the world someday. 🤞🏻Stay safe.
Yes! This is wonderful, Jane – thank you!
Thanks, Adam. Glad you enjoyed my tribute. A great loss but an important legacy that carries on. 🙂
Sorry I thought I had commented on this post. THIS is such a powerful post. I love the strength of the trees and how that parallels John Lewis’s fortitude. Such a sad loss for everybody who admired and loved him. Great pictures and post! The black and white and the first one are my favorites. Hope you caught the documentary 🙂
My goodness, I’m speechless. This post is created so brilliantly it really talks to me. May I reblog it on Surprising Lives?
Thank you so much, Amanda. I’m happy you enjoyed this tribute. Of course, I’d be honored for you to share. 🙂
Great. I’ll let you know when it posts. 🙏
Beautiful shots of trees, Jane. Also such reflective poetic words and quotes to go along with them. Life isn’t always easy. The least we can do is to look out for each other. Keep up the good work.
Thank you so much, Mabel. Kindness must prevail.
Beautiful
Thank you, Soleust.
Thanks so much, Julia. 🙂
Amazing collection of trees.
Thanks, Rabirius. A favorite subject. Glad you enjoyed.
Excellent quotes by John Lewis – active freedom
Excellent photos by Jane Lurie – tree activism
Hi Abrie, Love your comment. Thank you so much. 🙂
Thank you Jane for sharing your gift with us. 🙏🏻
Hi Brian, Thank you for looking. Felt cathartic to create. Glad you enjoyed this tribute. 💙
Beautiful pics – and important words.
Thanks so much, Dave. I felt some hope putting it together. Hope that his inspiration continues to make the positive changes we desperately need. Appreciate your visit.
I love these beautiful photos. I love taking photos of big trees especially in the morning and during the sunset.
Hi Jo-E, Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed these images- some of my favorites. I share your love of photographing trees. Appreciate your visit and for following my blog. 🙂
What brilliant quotes these are. He lived long and made such an impact, so, there’s a certain satisfaction in spite of the loss. I have not seen this Maya Angelou poem either, and what a statement! Paired with your dignified photos, the text makes a powerful tribute. Once again, you have focused our attention on something – someone – that is very meaningful. Thank you.
Hi Lynn, I’m happy you enjoyed his inspiring words and Maya’s poem- which gets me every time I read it. It was cathartic to reread Lewis’ words and pair them with the images. Glad you feel it’s a fitting tribute to a great man. Thank you very much. 💙
🙂
Beautiful scenics for your John Lewis tribute. I do wonder what will happen as the great stalwarts of the Civil Rights era become so few, then none. I know we lose their wisdom, their knowledge, their experience.
Stay well, stay safe.
Hi David, Thank you. I hope his legacy lives on forever and it is a reminder how much work there is to be done. More good trouble is in order. Warm wishes for healthy and safe days, too. 💙
I’m in awe !! Beautiful picture
Thanks very much, Rashika. 💙
Wonderful pictures, Jane, and for a favourite I agree with Harrie. As for John Lewis, I can only hope that change will come. 🙂
HI Adrian, Glad you enjoyed this tribute. A great loss but a legacy that will hopefully impact lives positively for many years to come. Thank you. 🙂
Wow! Stunning photographer, Jane, showcasing these magnificent trees!
Thank you so much, Pete. Glad you enjoyed these. 🌲
So huge trees and very nicely photographed! It is nice to see how different nature in the other side of the world. Thank you for sharing your amazing photos with us! Greetings from Finland!
Hi Minna, Thanks so much for your visit and positive reaction to my tree images. You live in a beautiful part of the world. I was fortunate to visit lovely Helsinki a few years ago.
the series is really extraordinary, I really like it a lot and it is difficult for me to have a preference for one of your photographs
On the first, all the same ….. I admire all these straight trunks, which rise to the sky
Thank you, Yoshimi. The redwoods are extraordinary and challenging to capture their immensity. Happy you enjoyed this collection of favorite trees- I love photographing them. 🙂
Splendid tribute… but I tear up knowing both Elijah Cummings and John Lewis have left us to cope without them!
Thank you, Gunta. I’m with you, emotional thinking about these great lives lived and the positive difference they made in making the world a better place in which to live. 💙
I’m a tree lover and they are one of my favorite subjects. These are stunning compositions and a beautiful poem as well! ‘Fallen’ is my favorite in this group.
Thank you, Denise. Yes, we share a love of trees and your reaction to these mean a lot. Glad you liked the pairing with Maya’s poem (which moves me every time I read it). I hope to get back to the Humboldt State Park someday where Fallen was made.
A great tribute to John Lewis with his words and the poem.
Love your “Live Oak and Spanish Moss” picture!
Thank you, YC. Happy you found this tribute inspiring. Live Oak and Spanish Moss was made in Savannah a number of years ago and remains a favorite in my trees archive. 🙂
🤍 that Spanish moss!
Thanks, Graham. I love that moss, too. 🙂
Lovely and thoughtful tribute Jane…the trees have a spirit of strength and resilience…sending you joy and all good things be well 💪💛🤗and a hug Hedy
Hi Hedy, Thank you for your kind words and I’m glad you felt the parallel of the images to the power of his legacy. Let’s hope it lives on forever. Sending a hug back. 💙
Great set, Jane! Oak and Clouds is closest to me.. 🙂
Thank you, Harrie. A favorite spot in Napa.
These are such beautiful pictures paired up with such powerful quotes and that poem! Those black and white pics are so good, plus the Angel Oak with the sun peeking in … dude. Strength in your storytelling revealing the loss of such a great leader. Well done! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for your kind words, Guat. A great loss but a life well lived. May his inspiring work live on.
So beautiful and emotional, Jane! Thank you!
Thank you, Fabio. With hope his important work will carry on.
I hope so. Thank you, Jane!
Such inspiring words and a wonderful tribute. He was a great soul, wasn’t he?
Thank you, CloverandIvy. Glad you enjoyed this tribute. Yes he was, and his legacy will carry on. 💙
Jane, your magical images, marry so well with Maya Angelou’s prose.
Thank you so much, Cornelia.
A beautiful tribute. But with all great respect to Maya Angelou, great souls live on. They can inspire us forever.
Thank you, Michael. Glad you enjoyed this tribute. In my interpretation, I think that’s Maya’s point. 💙
Indeed.
Beautiful tribute and photos Jane. I always enjoy your posts, but this one has special meaning. Hope you and Bob are well.
Hi Amy, Glad this moved you. A sad loss but certainly a life well lived. Thanks so much for letting me know. Hope you all are doing well- love to all.
Very Nice, Jane.
Thank you, Sri. 😌
What a sweet tribute to John Lewis.
Thanks so much, Ann Marie. 💙
Wonderful photos and poem, too, I’d never read that one before. I haven’t yet been out to see the redwoods, so it’s always kind of hard to believe, when I see pictures like your first one. All of these are striking shots, but the unusual formations give “Oak and Clouds” a kind of uncanny feeling that’s really interesting, very cool.
Thank you, Robert. I find Maya’s poem so moving and glad you enjoyed the paired photos. I do hope you get to the redwoods someday soon – the peacefulness is overwhelming. I’m always in search of oaks in winter and this one in Napa is an amazing specimen. 😊
Powerful post, Jane!
Thanks so much, Belinda. A great loss to our country but his contributions will live on forever. 💙
Everything about this post is so right, so perfect. Maya Angelou! Swoon. And John Lewis – a truly good and courageous man. All interspersed with your beautiful photos. Lovely.
Alison
Hi Alison, I’m so glad you found this a fitting tribute to John Lewis. Yes, his courage and leadership will live on forever. Hopefully, it will continue to inspire the change we need right now. Thank you so much for reading. 💙
Such character in these old trees.
Hi Amanda, The stories they could tell. Appreciate your visit- thanks very much.
Indeed. If only they could communicate with us.
You are welcome!
Lovely words and composition, such a wonderful way to honor the memory of John Lewis.
Thank you, Sam. What a loss but a life well lived. Hope you are doing well in this crazy world. 💙
Mighty tree 🌳 has spoken , 🌱eco
Indeed he has. Thank you, Eco. 🌲
Well done. Great stuff.
Thanks, Mike. Glad you enjoyed this tribute. He will be greatly missed.
A wonderful tribute to a great warrior. The strong trees are the perfect visuals to accompany the. powerful quotes.
I’m glad you enjoyed this tribute, Sylvia. A warrior indeed. Thank you. 💙
I knew what your topic would be even before I saw your title.
You are a soothsayer, Steve. Thanks for stopping by.
So many beautiful photos, Jane!! I hope you and yours are all well. ❤️🌞
Thank you, John. Good to hear from you. We are well and I hope you are, too. 😊
Very well, thanks! Happy weekend.
🌈😁
Magnificent trees and superb quotes, Jane. ❤
Thank you, Eliza. It was cathartic to create. 💙
Wonderful, Jane. Your best photos and beautiful thoughts. Thanks for doing this to celebrate the life of a great American.
Thank you, Jack. Glad you feel it’s a fitting tribute to this wonderful man. 💙
So lovingly crafted, Jane, both pix & quotes
Thanks so much, Camille. A sad loss to the country.