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Paul Dotta's avatar

That was great, Debbie, thank you. 🙏🏻 The artwork and the jade! Tremendous.

Debbie Liu's avatar

So glad you enjoyed this one Paul! I had such fun writing it! Actually I discovered so many wonderful artworks by the Qingdao/ Laoshan artists collective, in the end, I decided to only use the one that echoed the story. I know, right -- jade!! Who'd have thunk? 😃

Edwina Shaw's avatar

go Debbie :) xx

Debbie Liu's avatar

Aw thanks Ed! ❤️

Jolyon's avatar

Another great post — instructive, whimsical and entertaining. I love the stone horse story! And "getting lost from east to west" is excellent. I'm going to adopt it.

I went on my honeymoon to Venezuela back in 1994, and we visited Roraima. Two memories remain with me. First, flying up there in an ancient Cessna, the control panel of which was literally held in place with large elastic bands. Second, stopping at an airstrip at the base of the tepui and having a little hike into the base of the mountain following a river up into the interior. I was in shorts, swimming costume and river shoes so was well-equipped for the paddle up the river, which then turned into a proper swim up a short, narrow canyon. Hilariously, a party of about twenty middle-aged Poles were there, the ladies wearing high-heels, gaudy skirts and blouses, lots of makeup and back-brushed hair. "They'll never make it," I thought. Wrong. They just carried on up the river as if they were at the beach. One lady even had her strappy heels in her teeth!! ;-) Excellent approach to life!!

Debbie Liu's avatar

Thank you Jolyon. How fortunate you were to go to Roraima!! Do you still have photos? "strappy highheels in teeth" as an approach to life!! I recall at the beach in Qingdao it was often the same. tourists from China's rural areas walking around in high heels. I never quite got over that sight!

Jolyon's avatar

I’ll see if I can find any photos. Definitely not of swimming Poles ;-)

Donal McKernan's avatar

be vigilant—when the light on the mountains gives the sign—arise and go

as long as blood turns in the breast your dark star

repeat old incantations of humanity fables and legends

because this is how you will attain the good you will not attain

repeat great words repeat them stubbornly

like those crossing the desert who perished in the sand

- Zbigniew Herbert

Debbie Liu's avatar

Donal your habit of quoting wonderful poetry in response to poets is lovely. this one is a beauty, the dark star, old incantations… very nice.

Donal McKernan's avatar

Which part of Jinibara Country are you on? Brisbane?

Debbie Liu's avatar

and also, thanks for asking!

Debbie Liu's avatar

Im not on Jinibara Country - I’m on unceded Ningy Ningy land. Ningy NIngy people were/are related to the Gubi Gubi people further up the coast. So i’m north of brisbane but south of the sunshine coast!!