Runners by Chipka
Close
Hover over top left image to zoom.
Click anywhere to exit.
Members remain the original copyright holder in all their materials here at Renderosity. Use of any of their material inconsistent with the terms and conditions set forth is prohibited and is considered an infringement of the copyrights of the respective holders unless specially stated otherwise.
Description
Two steps
One
Running
Swift!
—A traditional two/one poem, as heard in the Runner’s House in the town of Standing River.
*
“In the longago, they saw him running, his feet bound in leather buskins stuffed with old beardman’s moss. They saw him running, like a two-beat song played by the heart or by a metalsmith’s hammer on an anvil. Just like that. Two beats.
“They asked him where he was going in such a hurry, like two beats of a heart in love.
“I am going to Mayfly’s house,” he said. “By the river. I have a question for her. I saw her yesterday.”
—Fragment of a telling recited by Braids-His-Beard, of the Runner’s House (In the town of Standing River.)
*
*Editor’s Note: Two/one poems are simple, four line poems commonly recited by Runners traveling as messengers between towns. The form is characterized by four lines following the two/one/two/one line-arrangement pattern. The first and third lines contain two syllables, while the second and fourth lines are composed of single syllables. According to Gwotian poets, the traditional two/one poem structure is meant to emulate the systolic/diastolic pattern of the human heartbeat. Apprentice Runners will often time their footsteps to the “beat” of a particular two/one poem in the long periods of endurance training required of men in such a profession.
**Editor’s Note: The Mayfly figures in all of the folktales and tellings, myths, and songs of Gwot and the most famous tellers and song-masters hail from the town of Standing River. In the fragment of a tale, told by Braids-His-Beard, the nameless runner (evidently based on the image of a town messenger) has a lot on his mind, and must seek advice from Mayfly. Because the adult mayfly (Baetis tricaudatus) lives for only one day, the nameless runner must, obviously, run as quickly as possible in order to ask his question and receive an answer, as Mayfly is quite near the end of her lifespan. He saw her yesterday, after all; Gwotian listeners to this tale will automatically infer that Mayfly is near death, and so the logic of a “runner” going to see her becomes self-evident. In most of the tales common in the town of Standing River, the heroes and heroines of local tales often meet a mayfly, simply named Mayfly in just the nick of time, often receiving the answers to their questions (or important advice) in Mayfly’s dying breath.
*
I saw three runners today.
I wonder if they were going to ask Mayfly a question.
*
I suspect there will be a lot more from the world that oozed out of this image and the tale accompanying it. I’m a bit curious about the town of Standing River now, and who/what the Runners actually are. I doubt that they’re mere messengers. Or maybe they are. One never knows.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re having a great week.
Comments (13)
Faemike55
Who knows why they run but that they run, seemingly with no goal in sight. Chest heaving, legs cramping, feet swollen, blisters upon blisters, sweat cascading down their backs and thighs, creating a sensation of itching that swells beyond endurance and all the while they smile that smile which belies the pain that courses through their bodies - all in the name of good health; not realizing that one will be struck by a car and crippled for life, one will have a blood clot goe from their leg into their brain, crippling their thoughts forever and the last? yes, the last his fate is the strangest of all, for he will be running and out of the clear blue, be struck by lightning. such is life and death if not the body then surely the mind
vis151
Hummm Interesting, I like the photo!
netot
Interesting text, and interesting photo. Full of motion, with blurred figures but clearly protagonists, with a purpose.
durleybeachbum
Your little writings today are an absolute jewel! So much substance in a short space. I might attempt the verse form, I love stuff that happens through constraint, like haiku and sonnets.
midnightmum
You do wonderful work, thanks for sharing.
helanker
Chip I really like what you did to this shot. Reminds me of one I once made with my moms portrait in it :)
MrsRatbag
Wow, I love stories that you step into the middle of, like this; you're a master of this art. And a wonderful shot to anchor it!
CoreyBlack
No fair! Your half naked boy pix came out better than mine! I believe there's a term for words like the previous coming out of the mouth of men my age. The first one is "Old" and the second is "Letch." The word "Creepy" might also apply. But, enough of all that... This is a great shot! Made from the bank/nature trail along the Chicago River, looking up at the jogging path. It's always fun and a bit surreal moving through what appears/feels like the the thick of the woods within the heart of crowded urban sprawl. But then Chicago is frequently like that: a place of contrasts and strange juxtapositions. A quality that is what makes it such an endlessly fascinating photographic subject. Great, moody work!
sandra46
EXCELLENT WORK! SUPERB MOOD
auntietk
I love the idea of the runners asking questions of Mayfly. If more of this story occurs to you, I'd love to read it! (What does Corey mean about being old? He's younger than I am, for heaven's sake!)
kgb224
Superb capture and writing my friend. God Bless.
icerian
I like the tangle of branches there. Running marginaly people refill this scenery.
flavia49
beautiful image and writing