JOURNEY

JOURNEY          Drawing by Candace Knapp                
 27 inches x  35 inches   Photo Bjorn Andren

JOURNEY

Awakening this morning
to a world upside down
I continue my journey
Root ball wrapped for transport
all methods of earthly travel in doubt
relying on my own feet
I continue my journey
step by step
but my feet walk away from me
my surroundings liquid
wind blown
tossed
my horse swims upside down
dissolves into mist
I fall
continuing my journey
darkness overtakes
rumbling bison in the distance
I continue my journey
a light in the forest dark
I hold it with my eyes
it flickers
I remember it with my heart
I continue my journey
Beloved
when everything leaves me
I remember my intention
You are my journey
You are my destination

THE LESSON

SANDBOX INSTALLATION
Clay and sand by Candace Knapp
Photo Bjorn Andren

THE LESSON

Humans, you have been brought here for a reason.
Buried in the sand and made to listen
There is something that we dogs can teach you,
something you need to know.
Lift your nose and sniff the wind
it holds the breath of all who have gone before
their thoughts, what they had for dinner
So much to experience in this world
and you could easily miss it all!
I run to greet the sensations
I chase time like a rabbit
There you are running in your tight little exercise shorts
in careful straight lines
with those wires stuck in your ears.
That’s not running!
You must run with your whole heart
toes digging into the ground
mouth open, ears perked, legs stretching to the limit
ready to change direction when destiny calls.
Live in a way that makes your heart pound
and your mouth salivate.
Wake up humans !
Get your nose out of the cell phone
and lick someone’s face.

SEDUCTION

SEDUCTION     acrylic on canvas by Candace Knapp,
13 inches  x 13 inches  x 1 ½ inches     Photo Bjorn Andren

SEDUCTION

It was thinner than I had thought, this shell,
Thin like a soap bubble but cloudy and brittle.
I could sense shadows
I could hear muffled voices
there was often the warm sensation of beings passing nearby
and I was content for a long time, a round person in a round place
but something made me just want to
tap on the wall once or twice with my beak.
it was curiosity, an itch than needed to be scratched
and I thought,
“A tiny hole is no big deal. I will just peak outside one time
and that will be enough.”
Of course it wasn’t enough.
I started nibbling on the edge of that hole.
One day I stuck my whole head out.
There were beautiful colors, plants waved in the wind
and faces looked right into mine with their big staring eyes!
I wanted to hide
but curiosity pulled me out and I forgot that I was afraid.
I wanted to know about all these creatures:
What do their voices sound like?
What do they eat for breakfast?
Where do they live?
What do they think of me? What do they feel?
Is there any love out here?
Yes, there was!
I came out.
I was seduced by love.

INTUITION

INTUITION      wood sculpture by Candace Knapp
27 inches x 19 inches x  12 inches   Photo Candace Knapp


INTUITION

Through long treks across frozen fields
through rocky slopes on stormy nights
through agonizing heat and piercing wind
we have been together.
All these years
you have been my only companion
without words
without complaint
without question
we move forward
dedicated to the journey.

There are moments when the wind shifts
leafy shadows move across our path
I relax onto your back
opening my hands to let you lead
my legs melting into you
becoming your legs
Your feet whispering to the earth below
trusting that the destination is already here
within us
rooted in the moment
I trust my intuition
the journey is an illusion
there is no where else to go.

CUPIE

CUPIE        wood mobile by Candace Knapp     
6 inches  x 11 inches  x 11 inches    Photo Bjorn Andren       

CUPIE

you can tell that I’m a city girl,
I mean, I have a certain style you don’t find anywhere else
but last night I flew out to the salt marsh
by the light of the blue moon,
cool breeze under my wings,
salt grass stretching out to sea,
gulf waters seeping in between the mangrove roots,
firefly fiddler crabs in little round holes in the mud,
dark mysterious shadows, dense, silent...
I waited all night to see what would happen.
Then ever so slowly
grey sky shifts to pale blue
Mangroves from grey to chartreuse to rich green
Gulf waters at the horizon sparkle silver
and then cerulean blue
distant birds roam the sky
overhead an osprey soars then disappears
below pink roseate spoonbills sift the waters.
These are real birds
this is how it’s supposed to be.

Flying back to cement buildings
stopping outside your window
I tell you everything
wondering, “Can you hear me?
Can you even imagine?”