The Lonely Pawn

By: Jason Byrd

I’ve been backed up in to  a corner I see

Once again playing the role to victimize me

Rogue impostor parent on a hurtful endless mission

Blinded by a self righteous state of mind won’t even take the time to listen

Can’t stand to understand that as a parent I have always been better

Since you found me I have been saturated beneath your sea of stormy weather

The line in the sand has been finally drawn

Coupled with a threat that my son might be gone

At what cost are you willing to go just to hurt me

Do you realize your petty lies will NEVER detour me

Did you somehow forget it is the fight that I love

And what better fight to fight than a fight for my son

Did you really think you could take him that day

Is there a question that my blood line flows within his veins

Pawn pusher playing games you can’t win

Why is it your pawns look so much like him

Violent games played with you own flesh and blood

Wrapped carefully in lies and delivered with love

Simple minded play thing you don’t know what you’re doing

Won’t seem to realize whose life it is you ruin

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/2365461446_8304fbc05b.jpg

The Valley

Face in the Clouds

For some time now I have been enchanted with the sky and all that it may bring. At times I find myself hypnotized be the sun as it shines in some of the most amazing patterns and colors. Other times I can not seem to stop gazing at the storm clouds that roll in. Whatever it may bring, the sky certainly possesses a powerful infinite mystery about it. A mystery which may be holding the answers to many questions that have been asked for centuries and longer.

About a year ago, I was shooting a storm that was rolling in to San Diego. The colors in the sky were simply beautiful. From orange to red to pink to blue the sky was blasting out a projection of a kaleidoscope of color. On that particular shoot I remember distinctly seeing a face in the clouds looking at me. After a minute or two I decided to shoot the face that I saw. Upon my return home i began to review the days shots. As I came to the shots of the face I saw, I was shocked that I had actually captured it. There it was in all of its wonderful spookiness. He appeared to be angry, an old and weathered face. It was due to this that I later named the photograph “Face of Apollo”. Since that day I have made it part of my regular routine to aim for the sky and shoot.

Face of Apollo

http://www.flickr.com/photos/walkina/2234535934/

The other day I was taking some shots of the coming storm. I was only out for a couple of hours but time had seemed to stand still. The oncoming clouds were astonishing. I remember thinking to myself that the sky at that moment looked like an oil painting. A beautifully composed painting of vivid color thwarted by the ominous dark grey and black clouds. The sky was moving very quickly that day and the more the clouds churned so many different scapes taunted my lens. Finally I saw him. This face was not like the one I saw previous. This face was more calming and wise. It left me with a feeling of comfort and a divine sense of grandeur. It was for these reasons I decided to name this photograph “Conversation with Zues”.

Thanks,

The last week in San Diego have been stormy. Some cold wind and rain have created such beautiful skies that I just could not help myself. I sat for about an hour or so after the rain had taken a break and just shot the sky. At every angle I shot everything I saw. This shot is one of my favorites. The sun seems as though it was trying to fight its way out from behind the storm clouds. 

I suppose that this shot is rather symbolic to me. With the given state of our counties economy, I would be willing to bet that most of you feel like the very same stress that I do. Shrinking jobs and paycheck, home foreclosures, and high consumer prices are holding us all down. I continue with only the faith that at some point like this photograph, the storm must stop or at least take a break. It is at this point when we must all fight to let our sun shine through. We must blind those who try to keep us down with our bright and radiant dreams.

It is true that weathering the storm is often times the hardest thing to do, but it is during these times that we will all be amazed at the strength and resilience we all posses as humans.

Thank You,

J