January 01, 2010

Latitude

Latitude
(by Danielle and me)

Welcome to this sweet
and confusing world. It's your first
breath in cold air

sparkling little diamonds
light up the sky with possibilities
the flavors intoxicate, pulling
and whispering futures--
what will you be?

and you fall,
but no one catches you.

lemonade and fragile castles,
they're spun like sugar here.
listening to the orchestra of the world,
while you're tearing apart --

and strings find their way around your
hollow chest, stretching. Theories
you never believed in.

sometimes it's impossible

to not think, sitting under the tree,
swirling colors revealing
in the morning light,
how much things do
change

And you spin around in circles,
whispering love, love in a prayer

sway with the wind,
chiming whistles painting the hills
just listen, now
trying to catch the moment
before it disappears

The sunshine catches in your hair:

(wave hello now, smile
oh sweet honey with
threads of golden crimson
stream in little waves
this could be you)

Fall into love. Make a
wish

because sometimes it's impossible

to find yourself, without first
becoming a little
lost.

Just fly.

watch those sparkling lights
breathing air spiced with life,
knowing that forever changes
as easily as ruffled skirts,
and find truth in that

Don't be afraid.

To me, "Latitude" is about a world of chances. It's about being fearless and jumping, even though you don't know where you'll land. It's about being torn apart and putting yourself together. But mostly, it's about celebrating yourself and who you are as a person.

7 comments:

Priya said...

This is really, really good.

Beth Kephart said...

your work is always so magically surprising, and when you collaborate, the unexpected is a certainty.

Happy New Year to you, too, Maya.

Jessie Carty said...

i really love the images of the strings wrapping. :)

Erin said...

I like this so much.

favorite part:
"(wave hello now, smile
oh sweet honey with
threads of golden crimson
stream in little waves
this could be you)"

especially that last line.

Danielle said...

I'm really glad you like this, Erin.

Maya-- it was a pleasure working with you :)

Emily Ruth said...

I don't know how you do it, maya.

It's such a beautiful welcome back for me to your blog, after being gone while! :)

Julia said...

I love this. It really is like a sort of imaginary satin sheet in the air,the kind that keep reaching out to touch but can never find. I love it.