“Whereby shining, I have been, hunting Cibola, inquiring of angels, and I have found an ancient spirit in shiny metal, that brings me this winter from where I used to be.” – DS
“This is my winter song.” – Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson
Whereby shining!
He stands there a shimmer about him, unaware of our presence around him. He stands there beyond himself seeing mystery. He stands there receiving a word from the Lord, tilting his head to the left, listening. The ice-coated whispers enter his red cold infested left ear. We stand there too, you and I. Interested readers, voyeurs. Watching him. The boy surveying the steep snow-covered bluff above the ice filled river is nine-years-old. His brown worn jeans shift as he moves from one leg to another. He looks suddenly at a spot high above him on the bluff, and he is moving, climbing, and we watch him you and I, whereby shining he does go.
Whereby shining steeples in rows, frozen sand, some under snow. Climb the darkness, mount the helm, bring the shining and cast ahead. What child inside would make this climb, gathering snowflakes in his torn jeans behind. On upward, over ford, ice where no bridge, a stick as his sword. Somewhere here now higher, be still now his thought. For tracks in the snow, show something, what is not. The grace of elders, the crown to find. Saint George slew the dragon. Above in Eden, his dragon he will bind. A boy this day, O give us this day, to know, to grow, to climb on Saturday, December 21, 1969.
Whereby shining, half way to the top, a cold wind blowing in languages long sought. Each foothold a lesson, what has begun, can never be stopped. The object of mystery, the one at the top, the interest of passion, that is all that he’s got. The owl looking down says that is all that he’s got. To build legend in arid air cold, speak with ghost from society so old. A shimmer of metal from a place so high, an interesting shadow casting brilliance to the New Mexico cold sky. No time for doubt with the secret so near.
Whereby shining, the translucent moon is near. A waxing gibbous to the boy a sign is here. The icy waters of the San Juan below, he stares back at water, and watches it flow. His wooden sword it leans against his knee. He thinks he is better now, then he has ever been; the world of old has come to him. For in his hands he holds a meteorite, the sum of the heavens, and the source of his light. And from the beginning of what was him, the boy feels the light with what he holds within.
Whereby shining! – 12.10.2018 – דָּנִיֵּאל
This makes an impact.
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Thank you very much Roberta, I appreciate your comment.
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Stunning write, so many different in-depth paths to follow on this one.
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Thank you so much Petra, I appreciate your kind remark.
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Always a pleasure Daniel.
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Adore the self quote you begin with, and from there it gets even better. Deep writing!
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Thank you Heidi, I hope the self quotes don’t carry a ring of egoistical flavor to them. 😉
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Oh, I don’t think so, if you have the talent flaunt it. 😀
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I like that!
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I thought you might…;)
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The “WOW” factor is given here. This is beyond respectable Daniel. One of your best. 🙂
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Hi Itsa, Thank you very much. I am happy you liked this. 🙂
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I thought of the search for the grail as I read this, with one of my favorite lines being the following, “To build legend in arid air cold, speak with ghost from society so old.”. Fabulously written.
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Thank you Cheri, the search for the grail is a theme I love to incorporate in many of my writings. Very happy you liked this.
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Daniel I adore this. Your use of visual language puts the reader right there in December 1969. I assume this is about you. 😉 ❤
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Thank you Gigi for your kind comment. At the risk of sounding ever narcissistic, yes it is about me. 😉
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This winter song shines. ❤ it.
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Thank you, for commenting. Happy you liked it.
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This is adorable.
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Thank you very much Chelsie.
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Dear Daniel,
This is such a beautiful piece, with so much in it. Winter and hope, brilliance and shine. I adore the metaphors in this piece. Well done, and Happy Hanukkah.
Erin
❤
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Thank you Erin, I love the brighter side of Winter. 😉 Happy Hanukkah to you and your family as well.
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It is a beautiful time of the year if one looks for it, especially the Winter Solstice. shabbat shalom Daniel. ❤
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Amazing thoughts from the past Daniel. I reread a couple of times getting more shine. 😉 Love the cover of “The Winter Song” …<3
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Thank you Qwen, I loved this particular cover of “The Winter Song” which has been a favorite of mine for years. Happy you got the shine.
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Your welcome Daniel. Your blog has not only introduced me to great writing but some wonderfully talented musicians, so thank you. 😉 ❤
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The determination factor is strong in your theme Daniel. I could see that young man determined to find what made the shine, and then discovering it was him. As someone else mentioned, the search for the grail found early in life. This was one of your best.
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Hi Abigail, Thank you for your kind remark. The grail has always been assigned to boys but I think it should be for all of us to find. 😉
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It should be, there is enough adventure to go around! 😉 Thank you for that smile today…
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Adventure written as any I have ever seen. Made me a lad again. 🙂
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hey Steve, thank you for your comment.Always happy to help make someone feel like a lad again. 😉
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Well done and enjoyable Daniel. Your feast of depth served up to tease the palate of all of us. This took me back to many a childhood adventure.
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Thank you Darrin, Happy you got to go back for a bit upon reading this. May it stick with you going forward.
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Thank you Daniel, i believe it already might be at work. 🙂
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My commentary on this will be brief my friend because it is brilliant, and nothing more than that need be said.
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Thank you my friend. Those brief words I appreciate very much. Hope all is going well in your part of the world.
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A fine December to this point, of course winter has yet to lay gloves upon us. 😉
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Daniel, Whereby Shining is absolutely beautiful. Full of nostalgia, and spiritualism, written as only you do. Thank you for another great one. ❤
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Thank you Raquel, Thank you for reading and your comment. I feel blessed when I can mix nostalgia and spiritualism together. I appreciate certain roots may be more than others. 😉
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It is your Southwestern roots. 😉
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My young friend, you amazed me again, such an endearing story, a gift that a young boy would find so close to Christmas, so many years ago. Thank you for sharing it with all of us. Bill
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Hi Bill, thank you. I was a little hesitant to fit this story into this time of year but it did take place in December, so there you have it. 😉
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Winter stories were always a tradition when I grew up, a part of handing down genes to the younger generation. 😉
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Great, great story!!! 🙂
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Thank you Alex, very happy you liked this. Hope all is going well with you.
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Brother, your life has indeed been blessed. Never doubt you are right where you are supposed to be. it is evident you were filled with blessing from the beginning of your life till now. You still shine. Shalom, Den
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Thank you my brother. Your words always humble me and I am grateful for them. Right now they have a special meaning for me. Shabbat Shalom, have a great weekend.
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Brother you are the one that inspires me, I am praying for you and your family. Shabbat shalom.
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I found this whimsical post endearing Daniel. After rereading a time or two, I have come to the conclusion, I would have enjoyed being in your childhood.
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Thank you Lynette, I love your comment, and actually consider it a great compliment. have a great weekend.
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Wishing you a wonderful weekend as well. I consider facts, facts not compliments. 😉
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❤ your use of visuals in this Daniel. The song is a good fit as well.
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Hi Summer, thank you, I love to write visually. i am happy you liked the cover of “The Winter Song”. It quickly became a favorite of mine when I heard it.
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One of your best my friend, and there are many. We should all be fortunate to find our shine during the winter. Great holiday piece Daniel.
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Hi Wang, Thank you my friend for your kind words. I do wish you and your family a wonderful shine this winter. 🙂
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And the same to you my friend.
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Whereby Shining was adorable Daniel. The visual language takes me with you, just as you stated in the first paragraph. One of your best. ❤ ❤ ❤
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Thank you Heather, I am always thrilled when you like my post. As I stated to someone else in comments I love to write visually. Shabbat Shalom my friend.
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I read visually so we make a good pair. 😉 Shabbat shalom Daniel.
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I love these stories put to prose, they remind me that there is still innocence and wonder in the world, and therefore hope. well written as always Daniel. ❤
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Thank you Lauren for your lovely comment. that innocence and wonder in the world is what keeps me breathing I think. 😉 Wishing you a great weekend.
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Your welcome. You are right on this subject and many others. Wishing you and your family a great weekend as well Daniel.
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Love is alive, and it shines when one finds it, or it finds you. Unfortunately, it evades many people. Worse, many eschew it!
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Hi Resa, I agree, I think most have it, but many don’t know they have it. Then there are people such as yourself that bring it out in others. 🙂
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Ahh, sweet! ❦❦
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