SMOKE in the SKIES...

WHAT THE THUNDER SAID(excerpts) by T.S. ELIOT(1888-1965)

Here is no water but only rock

Rock and no water and the sandy road

The road winding above among the mountains

Which are mountains of rock without water

If there were water we should stop and drink

Amongst the rock on cannot stop or think

Sweat is dry and feet are in the sand

If there were only water amongst the rock

There is not even silence in the mountains

                       

But dry sterile thunder 

  

...without rain

And no rock...

if there were rock and also water.

And water a spring a pool among the rock

Not the cicada

and dry grass singing

but the sound of water 

over a rock...

Where the hermit-thrush sings in the pine trees

Drip drop drip drop drop drop drop

But there is NO water...

Photographs 2026