Archive for May, 2009

Example3 Slab Pile side by side

STRANDED ON A SLABPILE

 

I sat on Sparkling waters,
on Crisp November mornings’
Sun Playing
on my tauts, risins and gunnels.
An old piggin’ rolling on the floorboards,
as I rock Gently to the motion of the sea.
Mooring slack, coming tight, slack again,
so Peaceful, so Quiet.
Sound of ocean on shoreline,
only broken by Echoes from ashore,
a hammer, load of lumber, axe to wood.
Smoke Gently rising from rooftops,
an outport coming alive as I rock on my moorings.

That was a long way from this old slabpile.
How long have I been here? I don’t know.
Every now and then I get a whiff of salt air
if the wind is right.
Sometimes old fishermen happen by,
place their Gnarled hands on my gunnels,
or sit while the smell of pipe fills the air.

They say:                                       
“It’s over, never be the same again,
those were the Good Old Days”
                              They say.

I sit here while the rain Washes me,
the sun Splits my planks, and Peals my paint.
The wind Blows gales around me, Covers me with snow.
Hour after hour, day after day, year after year,
until I become part of this Old slabpile,
and we both become part of the grass and
“The Earth From Where We Came.”

                                               W. King

stranded1

Example #1 OLD ORANGE HALL, Bonavista, NF

Prints available $29.95
(click for larger image)
Built in 1907
Designated a heritage site in 1997

Use Picture Table for thumbnail followed by a large picture after the ‘more’ break.

orange_hall_bonavista_nf

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UP ON THE LANDWASH

landwash1

The land wash, not a bad place to be, the smell of the ocean, the pungent smell at low tide. Warm winds, cold winds, no wind at all, sunny days, cloudy days rainy days, snowy days, I’ve seen them all. I take them all in even now, and enjoy every minute.

There was a time when right here where I sit, hustle and bustle, springtime, salt air, new lumber, wood shavings, fresh paint, oakum, gasoline, hammers, saws, shouting, laughing, singing, a little cursing if someone didn’t hit the right nail! Getting ready for the season, Grand old days!

One day old Joe hauled me up here, said he was to old to keep up, maybe his boys would have use for me. Walking away he turned, stood, eyed me fondly for some time and walked away.

A couple of young fellows came by once, one said he preferred one of those fiberglass ones, lot less trouble. That was the last I saw of them, never did see old Joe again either, kind of miss him, after all we were together for a lifetime or so it seems.

Sometimes in the fall, wild winds blow from a November sea, whipping up the ocean. Smashing it against the land in frenzied fury. The tall grass around me dashing here, dashing there, gulls swirling and screaming. I feel vibrant and alive again, excitement swells as if back to sea again.

Hauled up here is not a bad place to rest, low tide, kids come to look for stickle backs or small crabs. Sometimes they crawl all over me, playing Captain or Pirate, it’s wonderful to hear the laughter again. One evening some boys came by wanting to burn me, they decided I was part of the past, part of their heritage, they left me alone. Close call, I was never one to go out in a blaze of glory especially on land, I’d just as soon fade away right here. Old Joe picked a perfect spot.

W. King

PRINTS NOT AVAILABLE

BONAVISTA ORANGE HALL, NF

 

 

old_courthouse_bonavista_nf

OLD COURTHOUSE, Bonavista, NF

Third courthouse to occupy this spot, built in1900.

Justice was served from here as far back as 1729

Prints available $29.95

orange_hall_bonavista_nf

OLD ORANGE HALL, Bonavista, NF

Built in 1907, designated a heritage site in 1997

Prints available $29.95

Fisherman’s Blues

Prints available $29.95 
(click for larger image)

Done shortly after the cod moratorium .  .  .

   .  .  .just my idea of an old fisherman sitting on the wharf thinking about days gone by, surrounded by a sinking boat and empty tubs. The boat was taken from a scene by Clarenville wharf a few years ago.In reality the boat was on the opposite side of the wharf.

fishermans_blues

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Outport Newfoundland

 

  Prints available $19.95
(click for larger image)
Typical outport scene,

I think it is Boat Hr. Placentia Bay. 

outport_newfoundland

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Generations

  Prints available $39.95 
(click for larger image)
Generations speaks of the generations who lived on this land as opposed to today.

It’s a strange wind blows around this house,
This house of echoes.
Creaking through rafters, rattling windows,
Caressing pebbles, whipping long tall grasses into frenzy.
Whipping up a very holy peace,
A peace felt from the first brush of the toe
On this ground of echoes.
All was good on this land of echoes.

                                   W. King

generations

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Stages

  Prints available $29.95 
(click for larger image)
Newfoundland fishing stages.  stages

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