The weekly challenge for SAPCC is supposed to be posted by midnight on Wednesdays but tomorrow I’ll be in Boston so here it is, the theme was: The Rub.
I had only one reference: Hamlet’s “To Be or Not To Be” soliloquy where he literally considers the merits of living and of dying.
“To die — to sleep.
To sleep — perchance to dream: ay, there’s the rub!”
He was wondering if he did kill himself whether he would then permanently dream of life.
I know there are other uses of the term, “rub”, and I considered them: abstract difficulty or obstacle, indentation on a surface that causes unexpected trajectories, unforeseen circumstances that translate to bad luck with no remedy, but then on Monday, late afternoon, I came out of a store and looked up and I knew the Bard was signaling me. I restrained from startling those around me by saying, “ay! there’s the rub.”
After I took several photos, though, I drove home knowing with utter certainty that had Hamlet chosen death, he would have dreamt alright, no perchance about it, and his dreams would have been of this sky.
Ay, indeed.
©Pat Coakley 2008
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You just never cease to amaze me and challenge me with the way you can turn things on their head or change perspective of thoughts. WOW.
How gloomy gothic and wonderful the insight in Hamlets restless resting mind . Lucky we got you, Pat, being a dreammaker from time to time.
Excellent interpretation. I too jumped to the Shakespearian angle on the rub. You have me wanting to read Hamlet again.
Oh, and nice shot. I sense hope in it – but I can’t tell if it’s fleeting or emerging.
Oh, how I wish I had read this in context before shooting. I really would have gone darker. I love skies like this. They have made me late for work on numerous occasions.
oooo this is a lovely sky. and YES, I want to read Hamlet again too!
Amber, I can hardly believe my little town has such unbelievable skies!
Thank you, sannekurz…and “restless resting mind”…isn’t that a lovely phrase?
Mt. Brooks: “I sense hope in it–but I can’t tell if it’s fleeting or emerging”….dare I say it? ah! there’s the rub! You don’t know. Hamlet didn’t know. None of us friggin know.
Conni, I think you should do your “darker” version anyway! I’d love to see what you do, I don’t care if it’s on time or not.
Smack, a lovely sky, yes, but is hope fleeting or emerging…that is the question?
You are amazing with skies Pat!
The stories you bring with each picture really
make me jealous that I’m not as articulate.
now the question is did i accidentally push the submit button or did i just want to take up two spaces on your page…yeah I’m an idiot.
Oh, Russ, but you carry a tripod and flash! That makes us equal in language skills! You can double message any time! But, what the hell is next week’s theme while your at it? It has to simmer in my head for a while before I get ideas.
Sorry I posted it early this morning. The theme is ‘Time’.
Oooo, that is a really, really good one! Thanks.