January 21, 2020

Marie Bortolotto 2020

"The world is greater than our words.
To speak of it the mind must bend."

- Wendell Berry



“To the mind that is still,
the whole universe surrenders.”

- Lao Tzu

Marie Bortolotto 2020

December 20, 2019

Marie Bortolotto 2019

Don’t just stand there
 with your hair turning grey,
Soon enough the seas 
will sink your little island.
So while there is still 
the illusion of time
set out for another shore.
No sense packing a bag.
You won’t be able 
to lift it into your boat.
Give away all your collections.
Take only new seeds and an old stick.
Send out some prayers
on the wind before you sail.
Don’t be afraid.
Someone knows you’re coming.
An extra fish has been salted.

- Mono (Sono) Santacroce (1928 - 1995)


Marie Bortolotto 2019


Marie Bortolotto 2019


November 29, 2019

Marie Bortolotto 2019

what legacy shall I
leave behind?
flowers in spring
cuckoos in summer
maple leaves in autumn

- Ryokan, Soto Zen monk 1758 - 1831
























Marie Bortolotto 2019


November 3, 2019

Marie Bortolotto 2019


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Marie Bortolotto 2019

The monkey is reaching
For the moon in the water.
Until death overtakes him 
He'll never give up.
If he'd let go the branch and
Disappear in the deep pool,
The whole world would shine
With dazzling pureness. 

- Hakuin





















October 20, 2019

Marie Bortolotto 2019

Marie Bortolotto 2019


...one of my favourite songs by Leonard Cohen...

"...if it be your will
that a voice be true
from this broken hill
I will sing to you
from this broken hill
all your praises they shall ring
if it be your will
...to let me sing..."




- Leonard Cohen, Canadian singer, songwriter,
poet, novelist. 1934 - 2016


Marie Bortolotto 2019

If they give you ruled paper,
write the other way.

- Juan Ramon Jimenez


Marie Bortolotto 2019

October 6, 2019

Marie Bortolotto 2019

Not even for a moment
do things stand still
- witness color in the trees

– haiku by Seiju, Japanese poet?

Marie Bortolotto 2019

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September 29, 2019

September 26, 2019

Marie Bortolotto 2019

"Painting is a personal thing.
It gives me the same kind
of satisfaction that religion,
I imagine, gives to some people."

- Ian Fairweather was
a Scottish-born, 
Australian recluse painter
1891-1974