Lapis (August)

If we extract ultramarine stone from Afghani earth without being aerial bombed, we could pack it down what remains of Silk Roads, avoid Islamist terrorism and satellite surveillance, before arriving with hundreds of refugees at the Mediterranean. While things take precedence over people, lapis lazuli gets safe passage to Ireland. Is that how they transported lapis for use in the Kells Gospel Book? Until this August I imagined that’s how it went, most valuable colour for the most valued words, but recent examination proves lapis lazuli wasn’t used. Not that that changes for a moment the Book’s message of peace.

Lapis (January)

Sleeping-waking 3am thoughts. Climate change. All humans a party, the innocent and guilty. Everyone on planet Earth. Like a blue plate in that show. (‘Blue: Alchemy of a Colour’, NGV January 2016) Earthrise, ocean colour, lapis or Persian Blue, one of those. “…a ghost, orbiting forever lost, in our monotonous sublime.” (Robert Lowell) Cloud and terrain swirl like a dragon, “symbol of the power of heaven.” (Marianne Moore) But we haven’t luxury of moonviews, never will. Here on ground Earth, where “my strength is dried up like a potsherd”. (Psalm 22) Our feet stand on the firm foundation of home.