I have fallen in love with this poem by the wonderful poet Les Murray after discovering a clue to "Absolutely Ordinary" in The Age Spectrum crossword this morning. (I'm a bit of a nine letter word and crossword fiend and have been known to buy the paper just for the delight of doing this and ignoring the politics 😜). In this poem by Les he again shows great insight and understanding of the human condition and particularly how what should be absolutely ordinary becomes extraordinary when people are closed down or in denial. I think the poem is so applicable to our times - we all need to have a good bloody weep as catharsis. I would suggest have a good read if it, then read it again and again (and again) to get the feel and insight. In honour of Les, I have commissioned a male subject to weep on command. Thank you Shaun Bryndzia. Ajanta Judd Photography All Rights Reserved An Absolutely Ordinary Rainbow by Les Murray - an excerpt The word goes round Repins, the murmur goes round Lorenzinis, at Tattersalls, men look up from sheets of numbers, the Stock Exchange scribblers forget the chalk in their hands and men with bread in their pockets leave the Greek Club: There's a fellow crying in Martin Place. They can't stop him. The traffic in George Street is banked up for half a mile and drained of motion. The crowds are edgy with talk and more crowds come hurrying. Many run in the back streets which minutes ago were busy main streets, pointing: There's a fellow weeping down there. No one can stop him. The man we surround, the man no one approaches simply weeps, and does not cover it, weeps not like a child, not like the wind, like a man and does not declaim it, nor beat his breast, nor even sob very loudly—yet the dignity of his weeping holds us back from his space, the hollow he makes about him in the midday light, in his pentagram of sorrow, __________________________ ☆ ☆ . (c) Ajanta Judd Haiku & Image #poet #haikustairs #poem #crying #blackandwhite #bwphotography #lesmurray #fire #sad #sadness #cry #bushfiresaustralia #poetrycommunity #instaportrait #portraitoftheday #portraits_ig #moodygrams #shotwithlove #bnw_captures (at Watsonia North, Melbourne) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7ewsnjJjR5/?igshid=jeey9k9p4om7