samedi 27 août 2005

Don't Walk on the Grass... The song said do... but she didn't... It was a dull, damp, grey afternoon on the 28th of February 1976... which, by simple mental arithmetic, can be deduced as being the day before the extra day is added to a Leap Year... that extra day added to the calendar every four years... that special day when a woman can propose to a man... her man. I knew it... Caro knew it... but the subject was never mentioned... the question never asked... the affair which had filled my heart and body so completely and passionately for the previous year was becoming as cold as the air which chilled our hands, cheeks and lips that empty afternoon. You know when hands, cheeks and lips are cold when you press them together, eventually, after a seeming age of walking slightly apart in near silence. I have learnt that using a camera is a solitary occupation... it took me many years to realise just that although I knew it well enough before. I simply didn't choose to put the tool, or toy, to one side more often - and make the person with whom I was having a relationship, affair or casual meeting the focus of my attention. I'd assumed, stupidly, that it was very necessary for the person to be the focus of the camera's attention. I've known more relationships break up through photography than for the usual problems associated with sex and money... although photography is often linked to exactly those two effects. It's simply that us men don't see it that way... we're the "hunter-gatherers"... and hey, we can then shoot pictures can't we. And so Caro and I walked a little... maybe talked a little... and I clicked the camera a little... but all I saw in Royal Windsor were signs, signs, signs telling me, us, not to do anything... everything was barred, forbidden, prohibited, closed, not allowed, restricted... if you entered the Great Park you were in danger from falling trees... and everywhere, in all those open spaces, we were not allowed to walk on the grass... Barbara Streisand's words from her album "Back To Broadway" were originally written by Stephen Sondheim for the musical "Anyone Can Whistle"... Everybody says don't / Everybody says don't Everybody says don't, it isn't right, / Don't, it isn't nice. Everybody says don't / Everybody says don't Everybody says don't walk on the grass, Don't disturb the peace, / Don't skate on the ice. Well I say do, I say, / Walk on the grass, it was meant to feel. I say, sail, till to the windmill / And if you fail you fail. Everybody says don't / Everybody says don't Everybody says don't get out of line / When they say that then, lady that's a sign / Nine times out of ten, / Lady you're doing just fine. Make just a ripple, come on be brave / This time a ripple, next time a wave Sometimes you have to start small, / Climbing the tiniest wall - Maybe you're going to fall / But it is better than not starting at all. Everybody says no, stop, / Mustn't rock the boat, mustn't touch a thing Everybody says don't / Everybody says wait Everybody says can't fight city-hall / Can't laugh at the King. Well, I say do, I say, / Laugh at the King, or he'll make you cry Lose your poise / Fall if you have to, but lady make a noise! Yes! / Everybody says don't / Everybody says can't Everybody says wait around for miracles / That's the way the world is made I insist on miracles / If you do them, miracles, nothing to them I say don't... / Don't be afraid! All the signs said don't... the song said do... but Caro didn't. 9:07:00 PM    comment []