Recently I've been drawn to portrait photography for reasons that I cannot quite put my finger on. I've done people work before, so why am I back here again?
It's probably no small coincidence that I've been spending a lot of time reflecting on my life, wondering why I've been so hard on myself all of these years; critical, unforgiving, unloving.
And I know I'm not alone. Men and women, young and old.
Through lots of soul-searching I am finding in myself forgiveness and a gentler internal voice; a voice of reassurance and love.
The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other's welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other's welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.