River Run

The river was central to our lives; as she ran, so did we. In the summer she ran slowly; our children played in her shallows, and we were careful to use no more of her water than necessary. We planted our crops in the rich soil that the river relinquished to us; as summer slowly cooled into fall, we harvested and stored food for the colder months ahead.

The winter rains sent the water tumbling and rushing over her banks; we kept our children close and told them terrifying stories of her powers so that they would stay by our sides and shun the fascination of the raging current. We were not always successful; our stories had the bitter taste of truth to season them.

But every year, Spring would bring a gentleness to the river, and we worked beside her with respect, leaving the fear behind.

© 2007 Cynthia Newcomer Daniel

This bracelet is made from sterling silver and ocean jasper. Hand fabricated. 8 inches long, fits 6-7 inch wrists.

Soul of the earth

How deep must I dig before I find something? I couldn't let that thought stay; I had to keep scratching up the earth beneath me, my mind empty and my hands full. I will break up and move this ground, inch by inch if need be, until I find it.

That's the kind of person I am. I don't give up easily, I'm not afraid of working hard or being bored. Honestly, sometimes, I just don't know how to leave well enough alone. It isn't my imagination (or at least I hope it isn't my imagination, I'm tired enough to hallucinate, honestly I am); there is a flash of light and color there, or there was, until something moved; I don't see it right now, but that doesn't mean it wasn't there, does it?

I will keep digging until I see it again.

© 2007 Cynthia Newcomer Daniel

Bracelet; sterling silver, faceted jelly opal, lampwork by Gail Kops of Beadles. Hand fabricated.

The crest of the wave

Long ago, and far away, in another time and place altogether, the coral grew in dense forests on the ocean floor. Oysters opened their shells, offering up their best pearls, and anemones pursed their lacy mouths into pretty pouts as we floated over them; cradled in the soft embrace of the water, we rose and fell with the tide.

It took no effort at all to float; it would have been hard to sink in those rich, mineral-laden seas. The salt crusted into glittering diamonds on our brows and lashes as we rolled like seals over the crests of the waves, and dissolved into long streams that bent the light into a spectrum of colors when we dove to escape the waves that broke over our heads.

And then we grew up; we grew up far too soon.

© 2007 Cynthia Newcomer Daniel

This bracelet cuff is made from copper, seed beads, and freshwater pearls. Forged and hand fabricated, free-form peyote stitch.

Leaving an opening

Mari's instinct for self-protection was only semi-developed; she was always finding herself in situations that made more sensible people cringe. Not that she was a disaster waiting to happen; no Mari's luck was extremely well-developed, and she nearly always came through the strangest situations, totally unscathed.

Or so we thought. In reality, her armor was impenetrable. If there was an opening, no one ever found it.

© 2007 Cynthia Newcomer Daniel

Chain maille ring from sterling silver, with labradorite. Hand fabricated.

Greta Sails

She was all alone on the deck of the ship, taking the morning air with the rest of the passengers; the endless sea rolling, rolling, rolling on all sides of her, blue and green and silver in the sunlight. If she closed her eyes, she could see Johannes and the children back in Denmark: waking up, eating their breakfasts, and working, working, working to make enough money to follow her to America.

She would labor long and hard while she waited for them; she needed so little, and the money she made would make the time apart so much shorter. She wished that she could breathe deeply enough to fill the sails with air and make the ship go faster; the sooner she began her new life, the faster the old could catch up to her.

© 2007 Cynthia Newcomer Daniel

Sterling silver, turquoise, black walnut bead by Joan Jensen of Tazwood Creations. Hand fabricated.